"  '  All  safe  now,  Mildred  ! '  cried  the  young  man,  as  his  hands  caught 
the  lines  which  he  immediately  passed  around  his  body." 

— The  Tivo  Admirals,  page  24. 


THE 


TWO    ADMIRALS 


H  ITale  of  tbe  Sea 


BY 

J.    FENIMORE   COOPER 

AUTHOR    OF 

LAST  OF  THE  MOHICANS,"  "THE  DKERSLAYER,"  "THE  PATHFINDER, 
'•THE  PIONEERS,"  "THE  PRAIRIE,"  "THE  PILOT/'  ETC.,  ETC. 


CHICAGO   AND   NZW   YORK: 

BELFORD,  CLARKE   &    COMPANY, 

PUBLISHERS. 


TROW8 
BOOKBINDING  COMPANY, 


!  5 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS 


CHAPTER  I. 

Then,  if  he  were  my  brother's, 

My  brother  might  not  claim  him  ;  nor  your  father, 
Being  none  of  his,  refuse  him  :  This  concludes — 
My  mother's  son  did  get  your  father's  heir  ; 
Your  father's  heir  must  have  your  father's  land. — King  John. 

THE  events  we  are  about  to  relate  occurred  near  the 
middle  of  the  last  century,  previously  even  to  that  struggle 
which  it  is  the  fashion  of  America  to  call  "the  old 
French  War."  The  opening  scene  of  our  tale,  however, 
must  be  sought  in  the  other  hemisphere,  and  on  the -coast 
of  the  mother  country.  In  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  the  American  colonies  were  models  of  loyalty  ; 
the  very  war,  to  which  there  has  just  been  allusion,  caus 
ing  the"  great  expenditure  that  induced  the  ministry  to 
have  recourse  to  the  system  of  taxation  which  terminated 
in  the  Revolution.  The  family  quarrel  had  not  yet  com 
menced.  Intensely  occupied  with  the  conflict,  which 
terminated  not  more  gloriously  for  the  British  arms  than 
advantageously  for  the  British  American  possessions,  the 
inhabitants  of  the  provinces  were  perhaps  never  better  dis 
posed  to  the  metropolitan  state,  than  at  the  very  period  of 
which  we  are  about  to  write.  All  their  early  predilec 
tions  seemed  to  be  gaining  strength,  instead  of  becoming 
weaker  ;  and,  as  in  nature,  the  calm  is  known  to  succeed 
the  tempest,  the  blind  attachment  of  the  colony  to  the 
parent  country  was  but  a  precursor  of  the  alienation  and 
violent  disunion  that  were  so  soon  to  follow. 

Although  the  superiority  of  the  English  seaman  was 
well  established,  in  the  conflicts  that  took  place  between 
the  year  1740,  and  that  of  1763,  the  naval  warfare  of  the 


4  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

period  by  no  means  possessed  the  very  decided  character 
with  which  it  became  stamped,  a  quarter  of  a  century 
later.  In  our  own  times,  the  British  marine  appears  to 
have  improved  in  quality,  as  its  enemies'  deteriorated.  In 
the  year  1812,  however/"  Greek  met  Greek,"  when  of  a 
verity  came  "  the  tug  of  war."  The  great  change  that 
came  over  the  other  navies  of  Europe  was  merely  a  con 
sequence  of  the  revolutions,  which  drove  experienced  men 
into  exile,  and,  which,  by  rendering  armies  all-important 
even,  to  the  existence  of  the  different  states,  threw  nautical 
enterprises  into  the  shade,  and  gave  an  engrossing  direc 
tion  to  courage  and  talent  in  another  quarter.  While 
France  was  struggling,  first  for  independence,  and  next 
for  the  mastery  of  the  Continent,  a  marine  was  a  second 
ary  object  ;  for  Vienna,  Berlin,  and  Moscow,  were  as  easily 
entered  without,  as  with  its  aid.  To  these  and  other  simi 
lar  causes,  must  be  referred  the  explanation  of  the  seem 
ing  invincibility  of  the  English  arms  at  sea,  during  the 
late  great  conflicts  of  Europe  ;  an  invincibility  that  was 
more  apparent  than  real,  however,  as  many  well-estab 
lished  defeats  were,  even  then,  intermingled  with  her 
thousand  victories. 

From  the  time  when  her  numbers  could  furnish  succor  of 
this  nature,  down  to  the  day  of  separation,  America  had 
her  full  share  in  the  exploits  of  the  English  marine.  The 
gentry  of  the  colonies  willingly  placed  their  sons  in  the 
royal  navy,  and  many  a  bit  of  square  bunting  has  been 
flying  at  the  royal  mastheads  of  king's  ships,  in  the  nine 
teenth  century,  as  the  distinguishing  symbols  of  flag-offi 
cers,  who  had  to  look  for  their  birthplaces  among  our 
selves.  In  the  course  of  a  checkered  life,  in  which  \ve.have 
been  brought  in  collision  with  as  great  a  diversity  of  rank, 
professions,  and  characters,  as  often  falls  to  the  lot  of  any 
one  individual,  we  have  been  thrown  into  contact  with  no 
less  than  eight  English  admirals  of  American  birth  ;  while 
it  has  never  yet  been  our  good  fortune  to  meet  with  a 
countryman  who  has  had  this  rank  bestowed,  on  him  by 
his  own  government.  On  one  occasion,  an  Englishman, 
who  had  filled  the  highest  civil  office  connected  with  the 
marine  of  his  nation,  observed  to  us,  that  the  only  man  he 
then  knew,  in  the  British  navy,  in  whom  he  should  feel  an 
entire  confidence  in  intrusting  an  important  command, 
was  one  of  these  translated  admirals  ;  and  the  thought 
unavoidably  passed  through  our  mind,  that  this  favorite 


THE   TWO   ADMIRALS.  5 

commander  had  done  well  in  adhering  to  the  conventional, 
instead  of  clinging  to  his  natural  allegiance,  inasmuch  as 
he  might  have  toiled  for  half  a  century,  in  the  service  of 
his  native  land,  and  been  rewarded  with  a  rank  that 
would  merely  put  him  on  a  level  with  "a  colonel  in  the 
army!  How  much  longer  this  short-sighted  policy  and 
grievous  injustice  are  to  continue,  no  man  can  say  ;  but  it 
is  safe  to  believe  that  it  is  to  last  until  some  legislator  of 
influence  learns  the  simple  truth,  that  the  fancied  reluc 
tance  of  popular  constituencies  to  do  right  oftener  exists  in 
the  apprehensions  of  their  representatives,  than  in  reality. 
But  to  our  tale. 

England  enjoys  a  wide-spread  reputation  for  her  fogs  ; 
but  little  do  they  know  how  much  a  fog  may  add  to 
natural  scenery,  who  never  witnessed  its  magical  effects  as 
it  has  caused  the  beautiful  landscape  to  coquette  with  the 
eye,  in  playful  and  capricious  changes.  Our  opening 
scene  is  in  one  of  these  much  derided  fogs  ;  though,  let  it 
always  be  remembered,  it  was  a  fog  of  June,  and  not  of 
November.  On  a  high  headland  of  the  coast  of  Devonshire 
stood  a  little  station-house,  which  had  been  erected  with  a 
view  to  communicate  by  signals  with  the  shipping  that 
sometimes  lay  at  anchor  in  an  adjacent  roadstead.  A  little 
island  is  a  village,  or  hamlet,  that  it  suits  our  purpose  to 
call  Wychecombe  ;  and  at  no  great  distance  from  the 
village  itself,  surrounded  by  a  small  park,  stood  a  house  of 
the  age  of  Henry  VII.,  which  was  the  abode  of  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe,  a  baronet  of  the  creation  of  King 
James  L,  and  the  possessor  of  an  improvable  estate  of 
some  three  or  four  thousand  a  year,  which  had  been  trans 
mitted  to  him,  through  a  line  of  ancestors  that  ascended 
as  far  back  as  the  time  of  the  Plantagenets.  Neither 
Wychecombe,  nor  the  headland,  nor  the  anchorage,  was  a 
place  of  note  ;  for  much  larger  and  more  favored  hamlets, 
villages,  and  towns  lay  scattered  about  that  fine  portion  of 
England  ;  much  better  roadsteads  and  bays  could  generally 
be  used  by  the  coming  or  the  parting  vessel ;  and  far  more 
important  signal-stations  were  to  be  met  with,  all  along 
that  coast.  Nevertheless,  the  roadstead  was  entered  when 
calm  or  adverse  winds  rendered  it  expedient ;  the  hamlet 
had  its  conveniences,  and,  like  most  English  hamlets,  its 
beauties  ;  and  the  hall  and  park  were  not  without  their 
claim  to  state  and  rural  magnificence.  A  century  since, 
whatever  the  table  of  precedency  or  Blackstone  may  say, 


6  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

an  Engligh  baronet,  particularly  one  of  the  date  of  1611, 
was  a  much  greater  personage  than  he  is  to-day  ;  and  an 
estate  of  ^"4,000  a  year,  more  especially  if  not  rack-rented, 
was  of  an  extent,  and  necessarily  of  a  local  consequence, 
equal  to  one  of  near,  or  quite  three  times  the  same  amount, 
in  our  own  day.  Sir  Wycherley,  however,  enjoyed  an  ad 
vantage  that  was  of  still  greater  importance,  and  which 
was  more  common  in  1745,  than  at  the  present  moment. 
He  had  no  rival  within  fifteen  miles  of  him,  and  the 
nearest  potentate  was  a  nobleman  of  a  rank  and  fortune 
that  put  all  competition  out  of  the  question  ;  one  who  dwelt 
in  courts,  the  favorite  of  kings  ;  leaving  the  Baronet,  as  it 
might  be,  in  undisturbed  enjoyment  of  all  the  local 
homage.  Sir  Wycherly  had  once  been  a  member  of  Par 
liament,  and  only  once.  In  his  youth,  he  had  been  a  fox- 
hunter  ;  and  a  small  property  in  Yorkshire  had  long  been 
in  the  family,  as  a  sort  of  foothold  on  such  enjoyments  ; 
but  having  broken  a  leg,  in  one  of  his  leaps,  he  had  taken 
refuge  against  ennui,  by  sitting  a  single  session  in  the 
House  of  Commons,  as  the  member  of  a  borough  that  lay 
adjacent  to  his  hunting-box.  This  session  sufficed  for  his 
whole  life  ;  the  good  baronet  having  taken  the  matter  so 
literally,  as  to  be  present  at  all  the  sittings  ;  a  sort  of  tax 
on  his  time,  which,  as  it  came  wholly  unaccompanied  by 
profit,  was  very  likely  soon  to  tire  out  the  patience  of  an 
old  fox-hunter.  After  'resigning  his  seat,  he  retired  alto 
gether  to  Wychecombe,  where  he  passed  the  last  fifty 
years,  extolling  England,  and  most  especially  that  part  of 
it  in  which  his  own  estate  lay  ;  in  abusing  the  French, 
with  occasional  innuendoes  against  Spain  and  Holland  ; 
and  in  eating  and  drinking.  He  had  never  travelled  ;  for, 
though  Englishmen  of  his  station  often  did  visit  the  Con 
tinent,  a  century  ago,  they  oftener  did  not.  It  was  the 
courtly  and  the  noble,  who  then  chiefly  took  this  means  of 
improving  their  minds  and  manners  ;  a  class  to  which  the 
Baronet  by  no  means  necessarily  belonged. 

To  conclude,  Sir  Wycherly  was  now  eighty-four  ;  hale, 
hearty,  and  a  bachelor.  He  had  been  born  the  oldest  of 
five  brothers  ;  the  cadets  taking  refuge,  as  usual,  in  the 
inns  of  court,  the  church,  the  army,  and  the  navy  ;  and 
precisely  in  the  order  named.  The  lawyer  had  actually 
risen  to  be  a  judge,  by  the  style  and  appellation  of  Baron 
Wychecombe  ;  had  three  illegitimate  children  by  his  house 
keeper,  and  died,  leaving  to  the  eldest  thereof  all  his  pro- 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  7 

fessional  earnings,  after  buying  commissions  for  the  two 
younger  in  the  army.  The  divine  broke  his  neck,  while 
yet  a  curate,  in  a  fox-hunt ;  dying  unmarried,  and,  so  far 
as  is  generally  known,  childless.  This  was  Sir  Wycherly's 
favorite  brother  ;  who,  he  was  accustomed  to  say,  "  lost  his 
life  in  setting  an  example  of  field-sports  to  his  parish 
ioners."  The  soldier  was  fairly  killed  in  battle,  before  he 
was  twenty  ;  and  the  name  of  the  sailor  suddenly  disap 
peared  from  the  list  of  his  Majesty's  lieutenants,  about 
half  a  century  before  the  time  when  our  tale  opens,  by 
shipwreck.  Between  the  sailor  and  the  head  of  the  family, 
however,  there  had  been  no  great  sympathy  ;  in  conse 
quence,  as  it  was  rumored,  of  a  certain  beauty's  preference 
for  the  latter,  though  this  preference  produced  no  suites, 
inasmuch  as  the  lady  died  a  maid.  Mr.  Gregory  Wyche- 
combe,  the  lieutenant  in  question,  was  what  is  termed 
a  "wild  boy;"  and  it  was  the  general  impression,  when 
his  parents  sent  him  to  sea,  that  the  ocean  would  now 
meet  with  its  match.  The  hopes  of  the  family  centred 
in  the  judge,  after  the  death  of  the  curate,  and  it  was 
a  great  cause  of  regret,  to  those  who  took  an  interest 
in  its  perpetuity  and  renown,  that  this  dignitary  did  not 
marry  ;  since  the  premature  death  of  all  the  other  sons 
had  left  the  hall,  park,  and  goodly  farms,  without  any  known 
legal  heir.  In  a  w^ord,  this  branch  of  the  family  of  Wye  he- 
combe  would  be  extinct,  when  Sir  Wycherly  died,  and  the 
entail  become  useless.  Not  a  female  inheritor,  even,  or  a 
male  inheritor  through  females  could  be  traced ;  and 
it  had  become  imperative  on  Sir  Wycherly  to  make  a  will, 
lest  the  property  should  go  off,  the  Lord  knows  where  ;  or, 
what  was  worse,  it  should  escheat.  It  is  true,  Tom  Wyche- 
combe,  the  Judge's  eldest  son,  often  gave  dark  hints  about 
a  secret,  and  a  timely  marriage  between  his  parents,  a  fact 
that  would  have  superseded  the  necessity  for  all  devises, 
as  the  property  was  strictly  tied  up,  so  far  as  the  lineal  de 
scendants  of  a  certain  old  Sir  Wycherly  were  concerned  ; 
but  the  present  Sir  Wycherly  had  seen  his  brother,  in  his 
last  illness,  on  which  occasion  the  following  conversation 
had  taken  place. 

"And  now,  brother  Thomas,"  said  the  Baronet,  in  a 
friendly  and  consoling  manner,  "having,  as  one  may  say, 
prepared  your  soul  for  heaven,  by  these  prayers  and  ad 
missions  of  your  sins,  a  word  may  be  prudently  said  con 


8  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

cerning  the  affairs  of  this  world.  You  know  I  am  childless 
— that  is  to  say— 

"  I  understand  you,  Wycherly,"  interrupted  the  dying 
man,  "you're  a  bachelor" 

"  That's  it,  Thomas  ;  and  bachelors  ought  not  to  have 
children.  Had  our  poor  brother  James  escaped  that  mis 
hap,  he  might  have  been  sitting  at  your  bedside  at  this 
moment,  and  he  could  have  told  us  all  about  it.  St.  James 
I  used  to  call  him  ;  and  well  did  he  deserve  the  name ! " 

"  St.  James  the  Least,  then  it  must  have  been,  Wycherly." 

"It's  a  dreadful  thing  to  have  no  heir,  Thomas!  Did  you 
ever  know  a  case  in  your  practice,  in  which  another  estate 
was  left  so  completely  without  an  heir,  as  this  of  ours?" 

"It  does  not  often  happen,  brother  ;  heirs  are  usually 
more  abundant  than  estates." 

"  So  I  thought.  Will  the  king  get  the  title  as  well  as  the 
estate,  brother,  if  it  should  escheat,  as  you  call  it  ? " 

"  Being  the  fountain  of  honor,  he  will  be  rather  indif 
ferent  about  the  Baronetcy." 

"  I  should  care  less  if  it  went  to  the  next  sovereign  who 
is  English  born.  Wychecombe  has  always  belonged  to 
Englishmen." 

"  That  it  has  ;  and  ever  will,  I  trust.  You  have  only  to 
select  an  heir,  when  I  am  gone,  and  by  making  a  will,  with 
proper  devises,  the  property  will  be  escheat.  Be  careful 
to  use  the  full  terms  of  perpetuity." 

"  Every  thing  was  comfortable,  brother,  while  you  were 
in  health,"  said  Sir  Wycherly,  fidgeting;  "you  were  my 
natural  heir " 

"  Heir  of  entail,"  interrupted  the  Judge. 

"  Well,  well,  heir,  at  all  events  ;  and  that  was  a  prodig 
ious  comfort  to  a  man  like  myself,  who  has  a  sort  of  relig 
ious  scruple  about  making  a  will.  I  have  heard  it  whis 
pered  that  you  were  actually  married  to  Martha  ;  in  which 
case  Tom  might  drop  into  our  shoes  so  readily,  without 
any  more  signing  and  sealing." 

"A  filius  nullius"  returned  the  other,  too  conscientious 
to  lend  himself  to  a  deception  of  that  nature. 

"  Why,  brother,  Tom  often  seems  to  me  to  favor  such  an 
idea  himself." 

"  No  wonder,  Wycherly,  for  the  idea  would  greatly  favor 
him.  Tom  and  his  brothers  are  all  filii  nullorum — God  for 
give  me  for  that  same  wrong." 

"  I  wonder  neither  Charles  nor  Gregory  thought  of  mar- 


THE    Tll'O    A  DM  IRA  IS.  9 

rying  before  they  lost  their  lives  for  their  king  and  coun 
try,"  put  in  Sir  Wyclierly,  in  an  upbraiding  tone,  as  if  he 
thought  his  penniless  brethren  had  done  him  an  injury  in 
neglecting  to  supply  him  with  an  heir,  though  he  had  been 
so  forgetful  himself  of  the  same  duty.  "  I  did  think  of 
bringing  in  a  bill  for  providing  heirs  for  unmarried  per 
sons,  without  the  trouble  and  responsibility  of  making 
wills." 

"  That  would  have  been  a  great  improvement  on  the  law 
of  descents  ;  I  hope  you  wouldn't  have  overlooked  the  an 
cestors." 

"  Not  I  ;  everybody  would  have  got  his  rights.  They 
tell  me  poor  Charles  never  spoke  after  he  was  shot  ;  but  I 
dare  say,  did  he  know  the  truth,  he  regretted  sincerely  that 
he  never  married." 

"There,  for  once,  Wycherly,  I  think  you  are  likely  to  be 
wrong.  A  femme  sole  without  food,  is  rather  a  helpless 
sort  of  person." 

"  Well,  well,  I  wish  he  had  married.  What  would  it  have 
been  to  me,  had  he  left  a  dozen  widows  ? " 

"  It  might  have  raised  some  awkward  questions  as  to 
dowry  ;  and  if  each  left  a  son,  the  title  and  estates  would 
have  been  worse  off  than  they  are  at  present,  without  wid 
ows  or  legitimate  children." 

"Any  thing  would  be  better  than  having  no  heir.  I  be 
lieve  I'm  the  first  baronet  of  Wychecombe  who  has  been 
obliged  to  make  a  will  !  " 

"Quite  likely,"  returned  the  brother,  dryly  ;  "  I  remem 
ber  to  have  got  nothing  from  the  last  one,  in  that  way. 
Charles  and  Gregory  fared  no  better.  Never  mind,  Wy 
cherly,  you  behaved  like  a  father  to  us  all." 

"  I  don't  mind  signing  checks,  in  the  least  ;  but  wills 
have  an  irreligious  appearance,  in  my  eyes.  There  are  a 
good  many  Wychecombes,  in  England  ;  I  wonder  some  of 
them  are  not  of  our  family  !  They  tell  me  a  hundredth 
cousin  is  just  as  good  an  heir  as  a  first-born  son." 

"  Failing  nearer  of  kin.  But  we  have  no  hundredth 
cousins  of  the  whole  blood." 

"  There  are  the  Wychecombes  of  Surrey,  brother, 
Thomas " 

"  Descended  from  a  bastard  of  the  second  baronet,  and 
out  of  the  line  of  descent,  altogether." 

"  But  the  Wychecombes  of  Hertfordshire  I  have  always 
heard  were  of  our  family,  and  legitimate." 


io  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  True,  as  regards  matrimony — rather  too  much  of  it,  by 
the  way.  They  branched  off  in  1487,  long  before  the  crea 
tion  and  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  entail ;  the  first  of 
their  line  coming  from  old  Sir  Michael  Wychecombe,  Kt, 
and  Sheriff  of  Devonshire,  by  his  second  wife,  Margaret ; 
while  we  are  derived  from  the  same  male  ancestor,  through 
Wycherly,  the  only  son  by  Joan,  the  first  wife.  Wycherly, 
and  Michael,  the  son  of  Michael  and  Margery,  were  the 
half-blood,  as  respects  each  other,  and  could  not  be  heirs 
of  blood.  What  was  true  of  the  ancestors  is  true  of  the 
descendants." 

"  But  we  came  of  the  same  ancestor,  and  the  estate  is 
far  older  than  1487." 

"  Quite  true,  brother  ;  nevertheless,  the  half-blood  can't 
take  ;  so  says  the  perfection  of  human  reason." 

"  I  never  could  understand  these  niceties  of  the  law," 
said  Sir  Wycherly,  sighing  ;  "  but  I  suppose  they  are  all 
right.  There  are  so  many  Wychecombes  scattered  about 
England,  that  I  should  think  some  one  among  them  all 
might  be  my  heir  ! " 

"  Every  man  of  them  bears  a  bar  in  his  arms,  or  is  of 
the  half-blood." 

"  You  are  quite  sure,  brother,  that  Tom  is  *.filius  nullus?" 
for  the  Baronet  had  forgotten  most  of  the  Latin  he  ever 
knew,  and  translated  this  legal  phrase  into  "no  son." 

" Filius  nullius,  Sir  Wycherly,  the  son  of  nobody;  your 
reading  would  literally  make  Tom  nobody  ;  whereas,  he  is 
only  the  son  of  nobody." 

"  But,  brother,  he  is  your  son,  and  as  like  you  as  two 
hounds  of  the  same  litter." 

"  I  am  null-US,  in  the  eye  of  the  law,  as  regards  poor  Tom  ; 
who,  until  he  marries,  and  has  children  of  his  own,  is  alto 
gether  without  legal  kindred.  Nor  do  I  know  that  legiti 
macy  would  make  Tom  any  better  ;  for  he  is  presuming 
and  confident  enough  for  the  heir  apparent  to  the  throne, 
as  it  is." 

"  Well,  there's  this  young  sailor,  who  has  been  so  much 
at  the  station  lately,  since  he  was  left  ashore  for  the  cure 
of  his  wounds.  'Tis  a  most  gallant  lad  ;  and  the  First 
Lord  has  sent  him  a  commission,  as  a  reward  for  his  good 
conduct  in  cutting  out  the  Frenchman.  I  look  upon  him 
as  a  credit  to  the  name  ;  and  I  make  no  question,  he  is, 
some  way  or  other,  of  our  family." 

"Does  he  claim  to  be  so?"  asked   the  judge,  a  little 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  n 

quickly,  for  he  distrusted  men  in  general,  and  thought, 
from  all  he  had  heard,  that  some  attempt  might  have  been 
made  to  practise  on  his  brother's  simplicity.  "  I  thought 
you  told  me  that  he  came  from  the  American  colonies  ? " 

"  So  he  does  ;  he's  a  native  of  Virginia,  as  was  his  father 
before  him." 

"  A  convict,  perhaps  ;  or  a  servant,  quite  likely,  who  has 
found  the  name  of  his  former  master  more  to  his  lining 
than  his  own.  Such  things  are  common,  they  tell  me,  be 
yond  seas." 

"Yes,  if.  he  were  any  thing  but  an  American,  I  might 
wish  he  were  my  heir,"  returned  Sir  Wycherly,  in  a  mel 
ancholy  tone  ;  "  but  it  would  be  worse  than  to  let  the  lands 
escheat,  as  you  call  it,  to  place  an  American  in  possession 
of  Wychecombe.  The  manors  have  always  had  English 
owners,  down  to  the  present  moment,  thank  God ! " 

"  Should  they  have  any  other,  it  \vill  be  your  own  fault, 
Wycherly.  When  I  am  dead,  and  that  will  happen  ere 
many  weeks,  the  human  being  will  not  be  living  who  can 
take  that  property,  after  your  demise,  in  any  other  man 
ner  than  by  escheat  or  by  devise.  There  will  then  be 
neither  heir  of  entail,  nor  heir  at  law ;  and  you  may  make 
whom  you  please  master  at  Wychecombe,  provided  he  be 
not  an  alien." 

"  Not  an  American,  I  suppose,  brother  ;  an  American  is 
an  alien,  of  course." 

"  Humph  !  why,  not  in  law,  whatever  he  may  be  accord 
ing  to  our  English  notions.  Harkee,  brother  Wycherly; 
I've  never  asked  you,  or  wished  you  to  leave  the  estate  to 
Tom,  or  his  younger  brothers  ;  for  one  and  all  are  filii 
nollonifn — as  I  term  'em,  though  my  brother,  Record  will 
have  it,  it  ought  to  be  filii  niillius,  as  well  as  filius  nullius. 
Let  that  be  as  it  may  ;  no  bastard  should  lord  it  at  Wyche 
combe  ;  and  rather  than  the  king  should  get  the  lands,  to 
bestow  on  some  favorite,  I  would  give  it  to  the  half-blood." 

"  Can   that  be    done  without   making   a   will,    brother 

T-l  1» 

1  ho  mas  ? 

"  It  can  not,  Sir  Wycherly  ;  nor  with  a  will,  so  long  as 
an  heir  of  entail  can  be  found." 

u  Is  there  no  way  of  making  Tom  a  filius  somebody,  so 
that  he  can  succeed  ?" 

"  Not  under  our  laws.  By  the  civil  law,  such  a  thing 
might  have  been  done,  and  by  the  Scotch  law ;  but  not 
under  the  perfection  of  reason." 


12  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  I  wish  you  knew  this  young  Virginian  !  The  lad  bears 
both  of  my  names,  Wycherly  Wychecombe." 

"  He  is  not  "A.  filius  Wycherly — is  he,  Baronet  ?" 

"  Fie  upon  thee,  brother  Thomas  !  Do  you  think  I  have 
less  candor  than  thyself,  that  I  would  not  acknowledge  my 
own  flesh  and  blood  ?  I  never  saw  the  youngster,  until 
within  the  last  six  months,  when  he  was  landed  from  the 
roadstead,  and  brought  to  Wychecombe,  to  be  cured  of  his 
wounds;  nor  ever  heard  of  him  before.  When  they  told 
me  his  name  was  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  I  could  do  no 
less  than  call  and  see  him.  The  poor  fellow  lay  at  death's 
door  for  a  fortnight.  And  it  was  while  we  had  little  or  no 
hope  of  saving  him,  that  I  got  the  few  family  anecdotes 
from  him.  Now,  that  would  be  good  evidence  in  law,  I 
believe,  Thomas." 

"  For  certain  things,  had  the  lad  really  died.  Surviving, 
he  must  be  heard  on  his  voir  dire,  and  under  oath.  But 
what  was  his  tale  ? " 

"  A  very  short  one.  He  told  me  his  father  was  a 
Wycherly  Wychecombe,  and  that  his  grandfather  had  been 
a  Virginia  planter.  This  was  all  he  seemed  to  know  of 
his  ancestry." 

"  And  probably  all  there  was  of  them.  My  Tom  is  not 
the  only  filius  nullius  that  has  been  among  us,  and  this 
grandfather,  if  he  has  not  actually  stolen  the  name,  has 
got  it  by  these  doubtful  means.  As  for  the  Wycherly,  it 
should  pass  for  nothing.  Learning  that  there  is  a  line  of 
baronets  of  his  name,  every  pretender  to  the  family  would 
be  apt  to  call  a  son  Wycherly." 

"  The  line  will  shortly  be  ended,  brother,"  returned  Sir 
Wycherly,  sighing.  "  I  wish  you  might  be  mistaken,  and, 
after  all,  Tom  shouldn't  prove  to  be  that  filius  you  call 
him." 

Mr.  Baron  Wychecombe,  as  much  from  esprit  de  corps  as 
from  moral  principle,  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  in  all 
things  that  related  to  meum  and  tuum.  He  was  particularly 
rigid  in  his  notions  concerning  the  transmission  of  real 
estate,  and  the  rights  of  primogeniture.  The  world  had 
taken  little  interest  in  the  private  history  of  a  lawyer,  and 
his  sons  having  been  born  before  his  elevation  to  the 
bench,  he  passed  with  the  public  for  a  widower,  with  a 
family  of  promising  boys.  Not  one  in  a  hundred  of  his 
acquaintances  even  suspected  the  fact  ;  and  nothing  would 
have  been  easier  for  him  than  to  have  imposed  on  his 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  13 

brother,  by  inducing  him  to  make  a  will  under  some  legal 
mystification  or  other,  and  to  have  caused  Tom  Wyche 
combe  to  succeed  to  the  property  in  question  by  an  indis 
putable  title.  There  would  have  been  no  great  difficulty 
even,  in  his  son's  assuming  and  maintaining  his  right  to 
the  baronetcy,  inasmuch  as  there  would  be  no  competi 
tor,  and  the  crown  officers  were  not  particularly  rigid  in 
inquiring  into  the  claims  of  those  who  assumed  a  title 
that  brought  with  it  no  political  privileges.  Still,  he  was 
far  from  indulging  in  any  such  project.  To  him  it  ap 
peared  that  the  Wychecombe  estate  ought  to  go  with  the 
principles  that  usually  governed  such  matters  ;  and,  al 
though  he  submitted  to  the  dictum  of  the  common  law, 
as  regarded  the  provision  which  excluded  the  half  blood 
from  inheriting,  with  the  deference  of  an  English  common- 
law  lawyer,  he  saw  and  felt  that,  failing  the  direct  line, 
Wychecombe  ought  to  revert  to  the  descendants  of  Sir 
Michael  by  his  second  son,  for  the  plain  reason  that  they 
were  just  as  much  derived  from  the  person  who  had  ac 
quired  the  estate  as  his  brother  Wycherly  and  himself. 
Had  there  been  descendents  of  females  even  to  interfere, 
no  such  opinion  would  have  existed  ;  but,  as  between  an 
escheat,  or  a  devise  in  favor  of  a.  f  Hits  milliits,  or  of  the  de 
scendant  of  &fiUiis  nulliiis,  the  half-blood  possessed  every 
possible  advantage.  In  his  legal  eyes,  legitimacy  was 
every  thing,  although  he  had  not  hesitated  to  be  the 
means  of  bringing  into  the  world  seven  illegitimate 
children,  that  being  the  precise  number  Martha  had  the 
credit  of  having  borne  him,  though  three  only  survived. 
After  reflecting  a  moment,  therefore,  he  turned  to  the 
Baronet,  and  addressed  him  more  seriously  than  he  had 
yet  done,  in  the  present  dialogue  ;  first  taking  a  draught 
of  cordial  to  give  him  strength  for  the  occasion. 

"  Listen  to  me,  brother  Wycherly,"  said  the  judge,  with 
a  gravity  that  at  once  caught  the  attention  of  the  other. 
"You  know  something  of  the  family  history,  and  I  need  do 
no  more  than  allude  to  it.  Our  ancestors  were  the  knightly 
possessors  of  Wychecombe,  centuries  before  King  James 
established  the  rank  of  baronet.  When  our  great-grand 
father,  Sir  Wycherly,  accepted  the  patent  of  1611,  he 
scarcely  did  himself  honor  ;  for,  by  aspiring  higher,  he 
might  have  got  a  peerage.  However,  a  baronet  he  became, 
and  for  the  first  time  since  Wychecombe  was  Wychecombe, 
the  estate  was  entailed,  to  do  credit  to  the  new  rank.  Now, 


I4  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

the  first  Sir  Wycherly  had  three  sons,  and  no  daughter. 
Each  of  these  sons  succeeded  :  the  two  eldest  as  bachelors, 
and  the  youngest  was  our  grandfather.  Sir  Thomas,  the 
fourth  baronet,  left  an  only  child,  Wycherly,  our  father. 
Sir  Wycherly,  our  father,  had  five  sons  :  Wycherly,  his 
successor,  yourself,  and  the  sixth  baronet  ;  myself  ;  James  ; 
Charles  ;  and  Gregory.  The  two  last  lost  their  lives  in  the 
king's  service,  unmarried  ;  and  neither  you  nor  I  have 
entered  into  the  holy  state  of  matrimony.  I  cannot  sur 
vive  a  month,  and  the  hope  of  perpetuating  the  direct  line 
of  the  family  rests  with  yourself.  This  accounts  for  all  the 
descendants  of  Sir  Wycherly,  the  first  baronet  ;  and  it  also 
settles  the  question  of  heirs  of  entail,  of  whom  there  are 
none  after  myself.  To  go  back  beyond  the  time  of  King 
James  I.  :  Twice  did  the  elder  lines  of  the  Wychecombs 
fail,  between  the  reign  of  King  Richard  II.  and  King  Henry 
VII.,  when  Sir  Michael  succeeded.  Now,  in  each  of  these 
cases,  the  law  disposed  of  the  succession  :  the  youngest 
branches  of  the  family,  in  both  instances,  getting  the  es 
tate.  It  follows,  agreeably  to  legal  decisions  had  at  the 
time,  when  the  facts  must  have  been  known,  that  the 
Wychecombes  were  reduced  to  these  younger  lines.  Sir 
Michael  had  two  wives.  From  the  first  we  are  derived  ; 
from  the  last,  the  Wychecombes  of  Hertfordshire,  since 
known  as  baronets  of  that  county,  by  the  style  and  title  of 
Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  of  Wychecombe-Regis,  Herts." 

"  The  present  Sir  Reginald  can  have  no  claim,  being  of 
the  half-blood,"  put  in  Sir  Wycherly,  with  a  brevity  of 
manner  that  denoted  feeling.  "  The  half  blood  is  as  bad  as 
a  nulliits,  as  you  call  Tom." 

"  Not  quite.  A  person  of  the  half-blood  may  be  as  legit 
imate  as  the  king's  majesty;  whereas,  a  nullius  is  of  no 
blood.  Now,  suppose  for  a  moment,  Sir  Wycherly,  that 
you  had  been  a  son  by  a  first  wife,  and  I  had  been  a  son  by  a 
second — would  there  have  been  no  relationship  between  us?" 

"  What  a  question,  Tom,  to  put  to  your  brother  !  " 

"  But  I  should  not  be  your  own  brother,  my  good  sir  ; 
only  your  half  brother  ;  of  the  half,  and  not  of  the  whole 
blood." 

"  What  of  that — what  of  that  ?  your  father  would  have 
been  my  father — we  would  have  had  the  same  name — the 
same  family  history — the  same  family  feelings — poll !  poh  ! 
we  should  have  both  been  Wychecombes,  exactly  as  we  arc 
to-day." 


.9.  15 

ive  been  your  heir, 

nor  you  mine.  The  estate  would  esclTfe'air to  the  king, 
Hanoverian  or  Scotchman,  before  it  came  to  me.  Indeed, 
to  me  it  could  never  come.  " 

"Thomas,  you  are  trifling  with  my  ignorance,  and  mak 
ing  matters  worse  than  they  really  are.  Certainly,  as  long 
as  you  lived,  you  would  be  my  heir!" 

"Very  true,  as  to  the  ^20,000  in  the  funds,  but  not  as 
to  the  baronetcy,  and  Wychecombe.  So  far  as  the  two  last 
are  concerned,  I  am  heir  of  blood,  and  of  entail,  of  the 
body  of  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  the  first  baronet,  and 
the  maker  of  the  entail." 

"Had  there  been  no  entail,  and  I  had  died  a  child,  who 
would  have  succeeded  our  father,  supposing  there  had 
been  two  mothers  ? " 

"  I,  as  the  next  surviving  son." 

"There  !  I  knew  it  must  be  so  !  "  exclaimed  Sir  Wycher 
ly,  in  triumph  ;  "and  all  this  time  you  have  been  joking 
with  me  ! " 

"Not  so  fast,  brother  of  mine — not  so  fast.  I  should  be 
of  the  whole  blood,  as  respected  our  father,  and  all  the 
Wychecombes  that  have  gone  before  him  ;  but  of  the  half- 
blood,  as  respected  you.  From  our  father  I  might  have 
taken,  as  his  heir-at-law  ;  but  fromjjw/,  never,  having  been 
of  the  //tf/7-blood." 

"  I  would  have  made  a  will,  in  that  case,  Thomas,  and 
left  you  every  farthing,"  said  Sir  Wycherly,  with  feeling. 

"  That  is  just  what  I  wish  you  to  do  with  Sir  Reginald 
Wychecombe.  You  must  take  him  ;  ^fillius  nullius,  in  the 
person  of  my  son  Tom  ;  a  stranger  ;  or  let  the  property 
escheat  ;  for,  we  are  so  peculiarly  placed  as  not  to  have  a 
known  relative,  by  either  the  male  or  female  lines  ;  the 
maternal  ancestors  being  just  as  barren  of  heirs  as  the  pa 
ternal.  Our  good  mother  was  the  natural  daughter  of  the 
third  Earl  of  Prolific  ;  our  grandmother  was  the  last  of 
her  race,  so  far  as  human  ken  can  discover  ;  our  great- 
grandmother  is  said  to  have  had  semi-royal  blood  in  her 
veins,  without  the  aid  of  the  Church,  and  beyond  that  it 
would  be  hopeless  to  attempt  tracing  consanguinity  on  that 
side  of  the  house.  No,  Wycherly  ;  it  is  Sir  Reginald  who 
has  the  best  right  to  the  land  ;  Tom,  or  one  of  his  brothers, 
an  utter  stranger,  or  his  Majesty,  follow.  Remember  that 
estates  of  ^4,000  a  year  don't  often  escheat,  nowadays." 

"If  you'll  draw  up  a  will,  brother,  I'll  leave  it  all  to  Tom," 


1 6  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

cried  the  Baronet,  with  sudden  energy.  "  Nothing  need  be 
said  about  the  nullius  ;  and  when  I'm  gone,  he'll  step  qui 
etly  into  my  place." 

Nature  triumphed  a  moment  in  the  bosom  of  the  father  ; 
but  habit,  and  the  stern  sense  of  right  soon  overcame  the 
feeling.  Perhaps  certain  doubts,  and  a  knowledge  of  his 
son's  real  character,  contributed  their  share  toward  the 
reply. 

"  It  ought  not  to  be,  Sir  Wycherly,"  returned  the  judge, 
musing  ;  "  Torn  has  no  right  to  Wychecombe,  and  Sir 
Reginald  has  the  best  moral  right  possible,  though  the  law 
cuts  him  off.  Had  Sir  Michael  made  the  entail,  instead  of 
our  great-grandfather,  he  would  ha,ve  come  in  as  a  matter 
of  course." 

"  I  never  liked  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,"  said  the  Bar 
onet,  stubbornly. 

"What  of  that?  He  will  not  trouble  you  while  living, 
and  when  dead  it  will  be  all  the  same.  Come,  come— I 
will  draw  the  will  myself,  leaving  blanks  for  the  name; 
and  when  it  is  once  done,  you  will  sign  it,  cheerfully.  It 
is  the  last  legal  act  I  shall  ever  perform,  and  it  will  be  a 
suitable  one,  death  being  constantly  before  me." 

This  ended  the  dialogue.  The  will  was  drawn  according 
to  promise  ;  Sir  Wycherly  took  it  to  his  room  to  read,  care 
fully  inserted  the  name  of  Tom  Wychecombe  in  all  the 
blank  spaces,  brought  it  back,  duly  executed  the  instru 
ment  in  his  brother's  presence,  and  then  gave  the  paper  to 
his  nephew  to  preserve,  with  a  strong'injunction  on  him  to 
keep  the  secret,  until  the  instrument  should  have  force  by 
his  own  death.  Mr.  Baron  Wychecombe  died  in  six  weeks, 
and  the  Baronet  returned  to  his  residence,  a  sincere 
mourner  for  the  loss  of  an  only  brother.  A  more  unfortu 
nate  selection  of  an  heir  could  not  have  been  made,  as 
Tom  Wychecombe  was,  in  reality,  the  son  of  a  barrister  in 
the  Temple  ;  the  fancied  likeness  to  the  reputed  father  ex 
isting  only  in  the  imagination  of  his  credulous  uncle. 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTER  II. 

How  fearful 

And  dizzy  'tis,  to  cast  one's  eyes  so  low  ! 
The  crows,  and  choughs,  that  wing  the  midway  air, 
Show  scarce  so  gross  as  beetles  !     Half  way  down 
Hangs  one  that  gathers  samphire  !    dreadful  trade  ! — King  Lear. 

THIS  digression  on  the  family  of  Wychecombe  has  led 
us  far  from  the  signal-station,  the  headland,  and  the  fog, 
with  which  the  tale  opened.  The  little  dwelling  connected 
with  the  station  stood  at  a  short  distance  from  the  staif, 
sheltered,  by  the  formation  of  the  ground,  from  the  bleak 
winds  of  the  channel,  and  fairly  embowered  in  shrubs  and 
flowers.  It  was  a  humble  cottage,  that  had  been  ornament 
ed  with  more  taste  than  was  usual  in  England  in  that  day. 
Its  whitened  walls,  thatched  roof,  picketed  garden,  and 
trellised  porch,  bespoke  care  and  a  mental  improvement 
in  the  inmates,  that  were  scarcely  to  be  expected  in  persons 
so  humbly  employed  as  the  keeper  of  the  signal  staff^  and 
his  family.  All  near  the  house,  too,  was  in  the  same  ex 
cellent  condition  :  for  while  the  headland  itself  lay  in  com 
mon,  this  portion  of  it  was  inclosed  in  two  or  three  pretty 
little  fields,  that  were  grazed  by  a  single  horse,  and  a  couple 
of  cows.  There  were  no  hedges,  however,  the  thorn  not 
growing  willingly  in  a  situation  so  exposed  ;  but  the  fields 
were  divided  by  fences,  neatly  enough  made  of  wood,  that 
declared  its  own  origin,  having  in  fact  been  part  of  the 
timber  and  planks  of  a  wreck.  As  the  whole  was  white 
washed,  it  had  a  rustic,  and,  in  a  climate  where  the  sun  is 
seldom  oppressive,  by  no  means  a  disagreeable  appearance. 

The  scene  with  which  we  desire  to  commence  the  tale 
opens  about  seven  o'clock  on  a  July  morning.  On  a  bench 
at  the  foot  of  the  signal  staff  was  seated  one  of  a  frame 
that  was  naturally  large  and  robust,  but  which  was  sensibly 
beginning  to  give  way,  either  by  age  or  disease.  A  glance 
at  the  red,  bloated  face,  would  suffice  to  tell  a  medical  man 
that  the  habits  had  more  to  do  with  the  growing  failure  of 
the  system  than  any  natural  derangement  of  the  physical 
organs.  The  face,  too,  was  singularly  manly,  and  had  once 
been  handsome,  even  ;  nay,  it  was  not  altogether  without 
claims  to  be  so  considered  still  :  though  intemperance  was 
making  sad  inroads  on  its  comeliness. 


1 8  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

This  person  was  about  fifty  years  old,  and  his  air,  as  well 
as  his  attire,  denoted  a  mariner  ;  not  a  common  seaman, 
nor  yet  altogether  an  officer  ;  but  one  of  those  of  a  middle 
station,  who  in  navies  used  to  form  a  class  by  themselves  ; 
being  of  a  rank  that  entitled  them  to  the  honors  of  the 
quarter  deck,  though  out  of  the  regular  line  of  promotion. 
In  a  word,  he  wore  the  unpretending  uniform  of  a  master. 
A  century  ago,  the  dress  of  the  English  naval  officer  was 
exceedingly  simple,  though  more  appropriate  to  the  pro 
fession,  perhaps,  than  the  more  showy  attire  that  has  since 
been  introduced.  Epaulets  were  not  used  by  any,  and  the 
anchor  button,  with  the  tint  that  is  called  navy  blue,  and 
which  is  meant  to  represent  the  deep  blue  of  the  ocean, 
with  white  facings,  composed  the  principal  peculiarities  of 
the  dress.  The  person  introduced  to  the  reader,  whose 
name  was  Dutton,  and  who  was  simply  the  officer  in  charge 
of  the  signal-station,  had  a  certain  neatness  about  his  well- 
worn  uniform,  his  linen,  and  all  of  his  attire,  which  showed 
that  some  person  more  interested  in  such  matters  than  one 
of  his  habits  was  likely  to  be,  had  the  care  of  his  wardrobe. 
In  this  respect,  indeed,  his  appearance  was  unexceptionable; 
and  there  was  an  air  about  the  whole  man  which  showed 
that  nature,  if  not  education,  had  intended  him  for  some 
thing  far  better  than  the  being  he  actually  was. 

Dutton  was  waiting,  at  that  early  hour,  to  ascertain,  as 
the  veil  of  mist  was  raised  from  the  face  of  the  sea,  whether 
a  sail  might  be  in  sight,  that  required  of  him  the  execu 
tion  of  any  of  his  simple  functions.  That  some  one  was 
near  by,  on  the  headland,  too,  was  quite  evident,  by  the 
occasional  interchange  of  speech  ;  though  no  person  but 
himself  was  visible.  The  direction  of  the  sounds  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  a  man  was  actually  over  the  brow  of 
the  cliff,  perhaps  a  hundred  feet  removed  from  the  seat 
occupied  by  the  master. 

"  Recollect  the  sailor's  maxim,  Mr.  Wychccombe,"  called 
out  Mr.  Dutton,  in  a  warning  voice  ;  "  one  hand  for  the 
king,  the  other  for  self!  Those  cliffs  are  ticklish  places  ; 
arid  really  it  does  seem  a  little  unnatural  that  a  seafaring 
person  like  yourself  should  have  so  great  a  passion  for 
flowers,  as  to  risk  his  neck  in  order  to  make  a  posy  !  " 

"  Never  fear  for  me,  Mr.  Dutton,"  answered  a  full,  manly 
voice,  that  one  could  have  sworn  had  issued  from  the  chest 
of  youth  ;  "never  mind  for  me;  we  sailors  are  used  to 
hanging  in  the  air." 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  19 

"Aye,  with  good  three-stranded  ropes  to  hold  on  by, 
young  gentleman.  Now  his  Majesty's  government  has 
just  made  you  an  officer,  there  is  a  sort  of  obligation  to 
take  care  of  your  life,  in  order  that  it  may  be  used,  and  at 
need,  given  away,  in  his  service."  % 

"Quite  true — quite  true,  Mr.  Button  ;  so  true,  I  wonder 
you  think  it  necessary  to  remind  me  of  it.  I  am  very  grate 
ful  to  his  Majesty's  government,  and " 

While  speaking,  the  voice  seemed  to  descend,  getting  at 
each  instant  less  and  less  distinct,  until,  in  the  end,  it  be 
came  quite  inaudible.  Button  looked  uneasy,  for  at  that 
instant  a  noise  was  heard,  and  then  it  was  quite  clear  some 
heavy  object  was  falling  down  the  face  of  the  cliff.  Now 
it  was  that  the  mariner  felt  the  want  of  good  nerves,  and 
experienced  the  sense  of  humiliation  which  accompanied 
the  consciousness  of  having  destroyed  them  by  his  excesses. 
He  trembled  in  every  limb,  and,  for  the  moment,  was  ac 
tually  unable  to  rise.  A  light  step  at  his  side,  however, 
drew  a  glance  in  that  direction,  and  his  eye  fell  on  the 
form  of  a  lovely  girl  of  nineteen,  his  own  daughter,  Mil 
dred. 

"  I  heard  you  calling  to  some  one,  father,"  said  the  latter, 
looking  wistfully,  but  distrustfully,  at  her  parent,  as  if 
wondering  at  his  yielding  to  his  infirmity  so  early  in  the 
day  ;  "  can  I  be  of  service  to  you  ?" 

"  Poor  Wychecombe  !  "  exclaimed  Button.  "  He  went 
over  the  cliff  in  searcli  of  a  nosegay  to  offer  to  yourself, 
and — and — I  fear — greatly  fear " 

"What,  father?"  demanded  Mildred,  in  a  voice  of  hor 
ror,  the  rich  color  disappearing  from  a  face  which  it  left 
of  the  hue  of  death.  "  No — no — no — he  can  not  have 
fallen  ! " 

Button  bent  his  head  down,  drew  a  long  breath,  and 
then  seemed  to  gain  more  command  of  his  nerves.  He 
was  about  to  rise,  when  the  sound  of  a  horse's  feet  was 
heard,  and  then  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  mounted  on 
a  quiet  pony,  rode  slowly  up  to  the  signal-staff.  It  was  a 
common  thing  for  the  Baronet  to  appear  on  the  cliffs  early 
in  the  morning,  but  it  was  not  usual  for  him  to  come  un 
attended.  The  instant  her  eyes  fell  on  the  fine  form  of  the 
venerable  old  man,  Mildred,  who  seemed  to  know  him  well, 
and  to  use  the  familiarity  of  one  confident  of  being  a  fav 
orite,  exclaimed  : 

"O  !  Sir  Wycherly,  how  fortunate — where  is  Richard?" 


20  THE    7'irO   ADMIRALS. 

"  Good  morrow,  my  pretty  Milly,"  answered  the  Baronet, 
cheerfully,  "fortunate  or  not,  here  I  am,  and  not  a  bit 
flattered  that  your  first  question  should  be  after  the  groom, 
instead  of  his  master.  Now  my  poor  brother,  the  judge, 
is  dead  and  gone,  I  Ad  Mr.  Rotherham  more  and  more 
necessary  to  me." 

"  O  !  dear  Sir  Wycherly — Mr.  Wychecombe — Lieutenant 
Wychecoinbe,  I  mean  ;  the  young  officer  from  Virginia — 
he  who  was  so  desperately  wounded — and  in  whose" recov 
ery  we  all  took  so  deep  an  interest — 

"Well — what  of  him,  child?  You  surely  do  not  mean 
to  put  him  on  a  level  with  Mr.  Rotherham,  in  the  way  of 
religious  consolation  ;  and,  as  for  any  thing  else,  there  is 
no  consanguinity  between  the  Wychecombes  of  Virginia 
and  my  family.  He  may  be  a  filius  millius  of  the  Wyche 
combes  of  Wychecombe-Regis,  Herts,  but  has  no  connec 
tion  with  those  of  Wychecombe  Hall,  Devonshire.  ' 

"There— there— the  cliff!  the  cliff!"  added  Mildred, 
unable,  for  the  moment,  to  be  more  explicit. 

As  the  girl  pointed  toward  the  precipice,  and  looked  the 
very  image  of  horror,  the  good-hearted  old  Baronet  began 
to  get  some  glimpses  of  the  truth  ;  and,  by  means  of  a  few 
words  with  Button,  soon  knew  quite  as  much  as  his  two 
companions.  Descending  from  his  pony  with  surprising 
activity  for  one  of  his  years,  Sir  Wycherly  was  soon  on  his 
feet,  and  a  sort  of  confused  consultation  between  the  three 
succeeded.  Neither  liked  to  approach  the  cliff,  which  was 
nearly  perpendicular  at  the  extremity  of  the  headland,  and 
was  always  a  trial  to  the  nerves  of  those  who  shrunk  from 
standing  on  the  verge  of  precipices.  They  stood  like  per 
sons  paralyzed,  until  Dutton,  ashamed  of  his  weakness,  and 
recalling  the  thousand  lessons  in  coolness  and  courage  he 
had  received  in  his  own  manly  profession,  made  a  move 
ment  toward  advancing  to  the  edge  of  the  cliff,  in  order  to 
ascertain  the  real  state  of  the  case.  The  blood  returned 
to  the  cheeks  of  Mildred,  too,  and  she  again  found  a  por 
tion  of  her  natural  spirit  raising  her  courage. 

"Stop,  father,"  she  said,  hastily  ;  "you  are  infirm,  and 
are  in  a  tremor  at  this  moment.  My  head  is  steadier — let 
me  go  to  the  verge  of  the  hill,  and  learn  what  has  hap 
pened." 

This  was  uttered  with  a  forced  calmness  that  deceived 
her  auditors,  both  of  whom,  the  one  from  age,  and  the 
other  from  shattered  nerves,  were  certainly  in  no  condition 


TfTE    7*1 TO   ADMIRALS.  21 

to  assume  the  same  office.  It  required  the  All-seeing  eye 
which  alone  can  scan  the  heart,  to  read  all  the  agonized 
suspense  with  which  that  young  and  beautiful  creature  ap 
proached  the  spot  where  she  might  command  a  view  of  the 
whole  of  the  side  of  the  fearful  declivity,  from  its  giddy 
summit  to  the  base,  where  it  was  washed  by  the  sea.  The 
latter,  indeed,  could  not  literally  be  seen  from  above,  the 
waves  having  so  far  undermined  the  cliff,  as  to  leave  a 
projection  that  concealed  the  point  where  the  rocks  and 
the  water  came  absolutely  in  contact ;  the  upper  portion 
of  the  weather-worn  rocks  falling  a  little  inward,  so  as  to 
leave  a  ragged  surface  that  was  sufficiently  broken  to 
contain  patches  of  earth  and  verdure,  sprinkled  with  the 
flowers  peculiar  to  such  an  exposure.  The  fog,  also,  in 
tercepted  the  sight,  giving  to  the  descent  the  appearance 
of  a  fathomless  abyss.  Had  the  life  of  the  most  indifferent 
person  been  in  jeopardy,  under  the  circumstances  named, 
Mildred  would  have  been  filled  with  deep  awe  ;  but  a  gush 
of  tender  sensations,  which  had  hitherto  been  pent  up  in 
the  sacred  privacy  of  her  virgin  affections,  struggled  with 
natural  horror,  as  she  trod  lightly  on  the  very  verge  of  the 
declivity,  and  cast  a  timid  but  eager  glance  beneath. 
Then  she  recoiled  a  step,  raised  her  hands  in  alarm,  and 
hid  her  face,  as  if  to  shut  out  some  frightful  spectacle. 

By  this  time,  Button's  practical  knowledge  and  recol 
lection  had  returned.  As  is  common  with  seamen,  whose 
minds  contain  vivid  pictures  of  the  intricate  tracery  of 
their  vessel's  rigging  in  the  darkest  nights,  his  thoughts 
had  flashed  athwart  all  the  probable  circumstances,  and 
presented  a  just  image  of  the  facts. 

"The  boy  could  not  be  seen  had  he  absolutely  fallen, 
and  were  there  no  fog;  for  the  cliff  tumbles  home,  Sir 
Wycherly,"  he  said,  eagerly,  unconsciously  using  a  familiar 
nautical  phrase  to  express  his  meaning.  "  He  must  be 
clinging  to  the  side  of  the  precipice,  and  that,  too,  above 
the  swell  of  the  rocks." 

Stimulated  by  a  common  feeling,  the  two  men  now  rd- 
vanced  hastily  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  there,  indeed, 
as  with  Mildred  herself,  a  single  look  sufficed  to  tell  them 
the  whole  truth.  Young  Wychecombe,  in  leaning  forward 
to  pluck  a  flower,  had  pressed  so  hard  upon  the  bit  of  rock 
on  which  a  foot  rested,  as  to  cause  it  to  break,  thereby 
losing  his  balance.  A  presence  of  mind  that  amounted 
ilmost  to  inspiration,  and  a  high  resolution,  alone  saved 


22  THE    TirO   ADMIRALS. 

him  from  being  dashed  to  pieces.  Perceiving  the  rock  to 
give  way,  he  threw  himself  forward,  and  alighted  on  a 
narrow  shelf,  a  few  feet  beneath  the  place  where  he  had 
just  stood,  and  at  least  ten  feet  removed  from  it,  laterally. 
The  shelf  on  which  he  alighted  was  ragged,  and  but  two 
or  three  feet  wide.  It  would  have  afforded  only  a  check 
to  his  fall,  had  there  not  fortunately  been  some  shrubs 
among  the  rocks  above  it.  By  these  shrubs  the  young 
man  caught,  actually  swinging  off  in  the  air,  under  the 
impetus  of  his  leap. 

Happily  the  shrubs  were  too  well  rooted  to  give  way  ; 
and,  swinging  himself  round,  with  the  address  of  a  sailor, 
the  youthful  lieutenant  was  immediately  on  his  feet,  in 
comparative  safety.  The  silence  that  succeeded  was  the 
consequence  of  the  shock  he  felt,  in  finding  himself  so 
suddenly  thrown  into  this  perilous  situation.  The  summit 
of  the  cliff  was  now  about  six  fathoms  above  his  head, 
and  the  shelf  on  which  he  stood  impended  over  a  portion 
of  the  cliff  that  was  absolutely  perpendicular,  and  which 
might  be  said  to  be  out  of  the  line  of  those  projections 
along  which  he  had  so  lately  been  idly  gathering  flowers. 
It  was  physically  impossible  for  any  human  being  to  extri 
cate  himself  from  such  a  situation  without  assistance. 
This  Wychecombe  understood  at  a  glance,  and  he  had 
passed  the  few  minutes  that  intervened  between  his  fall 
and  the  appearance  of  the  party  above  him,  in  devising  the 
means  necessary  to  his  liberation.  As  it  was,  few  men, 
unaccustomed  to  the  giddy  elevations  of  the  mast,  could 
have  mustered  a  sufficient  command  of  nerve  to  maintain 
a  position  on  the  ledge  where  he  stood.  Even  he  could 
not  have  continued  there,  without  steadying  his  form  by 
the  aid  of  the  bushes. 

As  soon  as  the  Baronet  and  Button  got  a  glimpse  of  the 
perilous  position  of  young  Wychecombe,  each  recoiled  in 
horror  from  the  sight,  as  if  fearful  of  being  precipitated 
on  top  of  him.  Both,  then,  actually  lay  down  on  the 
grass,  and  approached  the  edge  of  the  cliff  again,  in  that 
humble  attitude,  even  trembling  as  they  lay  at  length, 
with  their  chins  projecting  over  the  rocks,  staring  down 
ward  at  the  victim.  The  young  man  could  see  nothing  of 
all  this  ;  for,  as  he  stood  with  his  back  against  the  cliff,  he 
had  not  room  to  turn,  with  safety,  or  even  to  look  upward. 
Mildred,  however,  seemed  to  lose  all  sense  of  self  and  of 
danger,  in  view  of  the  extremity  in  which  the  youth  be- 


THE    TIVO  ADMIRALS.  23 

neath  was  placed.  She  stood  on  the  very  verge  of  the 
precipice,  and  looked  down  with  a  steadiness  and  impunity 
that  would  have  been  utterly  impossible  for  her  to  attain 
under  less  exciting  circumstances  ;  even  allowing  the 
young  man  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  her  rich  locks,  as  they 
hung  about  her  beautiful  face. 

"For  God's  sake,  Mildred,"  shouted  the  youth,  "keep 
farther  from  the  cliff ;  I  see  you,  and  we  can  now  hear 
each  other  without  so  much  risk." 

"  What  can  we  do  to  rescue  you,  Wychecombe  ? "  eagerly 
asked  the  girl.  "  Tell  me,  I  entreat  you  ;  for  Sir  Wycherly 
and  my  father  are  both  unnerved ! " 

"  Blessed  creature  !  and  you  are  mindful  of  my  danger  ! 
B  it,  be  not  uneasy,  Mildred  ;  do  as  I  tell  you,  and  all  will 
yet  be  well.  I  hope  you  hear  and  understand  what  I  say, 
dearest  girl  ?" 

"  Perfectly,"  returned  Mildred,  nearly  choked  by  the 
effort  to  be  calm.  "I  hear  every  syllable — speak  on." 

"Go  you  then  to  the  signal-halyards;  let  one  end  fly 
loose,  and  pull  upon  the  other,  until  the  whole  line  has 
come  down  ;  when  that  is  done,  return  here,  and  I  will  tell 
you  more — but,  for  Heaven's  sake,  keep  farther  from  the 
cliff." 

The  thought  that  the  rope,  small  and  frail  as  it  seemed, 
might  be  of  use,  flashed  on  the  brain  of  the  girl ;  and  in  a 
moment  she  was  at  the  staff.  Time  and  again,  when  liquor 
incapacitated  her  father  to  perform  his  duty,  had  Mildred 
bent-on,  and  hoisted  the  signals  for  him  ;  and  thus,  happily, 
she  was  expert  in  the  use  of  the  halyards.  In  a  minute  she 
had  unrove  them,  and  the  long  line  lay  in  a  little  pile  at 
her  feet. 

"  'Tis  done,  Wycherly,"  she  said,  again  looking  over  the 
cliff  ;  " shall  I  throw  you  down  one  end  of  the  rope?  but 
alas  !  I  have  not  strengtli  to  raise  you  ;  and  Sir  Wycherly 
and  father  seem  unable  to  assist  me  !" 

"  Do  not  hurry  yourself,  Mildred,  and  all  will  be  well. 
Go,  and  put  one  end  of  the  line  around  the  signal-staff, 
then  put  the  two  ends  together,  tie  them  in  a  knot,  and 
drop  them  down  over  my  head.  Be  careful  not  to  come 
too  near  the  cliff,  for " 

The  last  injunction  was  useless,  Mildred  having  flown  to 
execute  her  commission.  Her  quick  mind  readily  com 
prehended  what  was  expected  of  her,  and  her  nimble 
fingers  soon  performed  their  task.  Tying  a  knot  in  the 


24  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

ends  of  the  line,  she  did  as  desired,  and  the  small  rope  was 
soon  dangling  within  reach  of  Wychecombe's  arm. 

It  is  not  easy  to  make  a  landsman  understand  the  con 
fidence  which  a  sailor  feels  in  a  rope.  Place  but  a  frail 
and  rotten  piece  of  twisted  hemp  in  his  hand,  and  he  will 
risk  his  person  in  situations  from  which  he  would  otherwise 
recoil  in  dread.  Accustomed  to  hang  suspended  in  the 
air,  with  ropes  only  for  his  foothold,  or  with  ropes  to  grasp 
with  his  hand,  his  eye  gets  an  intuitive  knowledge  of  what 
will  sustain  him,  and  he  unhesitatingly  trusts  his  person  to 
a  few  seemingly  slight  strands,  that,  to  one  unpractised, 
appear  wholly  unworthy  of  his  confidence.  Signal-hal 
yards  are  ropes  smaller  than  the  little  finger  of  a  man  of 
any  size  ;  but  they  are  usually  made  with  care,  and  every 
rope-yarn  tells.  Wychecomb'e,  too,  was  aware  that  these 
particular  halyards  were  new,  for  he  had  assisted  in  reeving 
them  himself,  only  the  week  before.  It  was  owing  to  this 
circumstance  that  they  were  long  enough  to  reach  him  ;  a 
large  allowance  for  wear  and  tear  having  been  made  in 
cutting  them  from  the  coil.  As  it  was,  the  ends  dropped 
some  twenty  feet  below  the  ledge  on  which  he  stood. 

"  All  safe,  now,  Mildred!"  cried  the  young  man,  in  a 
voice  of  exultation,  the  moment  his  hand  caught  the  two 
ends  of  the  line,  which  he  immediately  passed  around  his 
body,  beneath  the  arms,  as  a  precaution  against  accidents. 
"  All  safe  now,  dearest  girl  ;  have  no  further  concern  about 
me." 

Mildred  drew  back,  for  worlds  could  not  have  tempted 
her  to  witness  the  desperate  effort  that  she  knew  must 
follow.  By  this  time,  Sir  Wycherly,  who  had  been  an 
interested  witness  of  all  that  passed,  found  his  voice,  and 
assumed  the  office  of  director. 

"Stop,  my  young  namesake,"  he  eagerly  cried,  when  he 
found  that  the  sailor  was  about  to  make  an  effort  to  drag 
his  own  body  up  the  cliff  ;  "stop  ;  that  will  never  do  ;  let 
Button  and  me  do  that  much  for  you,  at  least.  We  have 
seen  all  that  has  passed,  and  are  now  able  to  do  something." 

"  No,  no,  Sir  Wycherly — on  no  account  touch  the  hal 
yards.  By  hauling  them  over  the  top  of  the  rocks,  you 
will  probably  cut  them,  or  part  them,  and  then  I'm  lost, 
without  hope  !  " 

"O!  Sir  Wycherly,"  said  Mildred  earnestly,  clasping 
her  hands  together,  as  if  to  enforce  the  request  with  prayer  ; 
"do  not — do  not  touch  the  line." 


THE    TU'O  ADMIRALS.  25 

"We  had  better  let  the  lad  manage  the  matter  in  his 
own  way,"  put  in  Button  ;  "he  is  active,  resolute,  and  a 
seaman,  and  will  do  better  for  himself  than  I  fear  we  can 
do  for  him.  He  has  got  a  turn  round  his  body,  and  is  tol 
erably  safe  against  any  slip  or  mishap." 

As  the  words  were  uttered,  the  whole  three  drew  back  a 
short  distance  and  watched  the  result  in  intense  anxiety. 
Dutton,  however,  so  far  recollected  himself  as  to  take  an 
end  of  the  old  halyards,  which  were  kept  in  a  chest  at  the 
foot  of  the  staff,  and  to  make  an  attempt  to  stopper  to 
gether  the  two  parts  of  the  little  rope  on  which  the  youth 
depended,  for,  should  one  of  the  parts  of  it  break,  without 
this  precaution,  there  was  nothing  to  prevent  the  halyards 
from  running  round  the  staff,  and  destroying  the  hold. 
The  size  of  the  halyards  rendered  this  expedient  very  diffi 
cult  of  attainment,  but  enough  wTas  done  to  give  the  ar 
rangement  a  little  more  of  the  air  of  security.  All  this 
time  young  Wychecombe  was  making  his  own  prepara 
tions  on  the  ledge,  and  quite  out  of  view  ;  but  the  tension 
on  the  halyards  soon  announced  that  his  weight  was  now 
pendent  from  them.  Mildred's  heart  seemed  ready  to  leap 
from  her  mouth,  as  she  noted  each  jerk  on  the  lines  ;  and 
her  father  watched  every  new  pull,  as  if  he  expected  the 
next  moment  would  produce  the  final  catastrophe.  It  re 
quired  a  prodigious  effort  in  the  young  man  to  raise  his 
own  weight  for  such  a  distance,  by  lines  so  small.  Had 
the  rope  been  of  any  size,  the  achievement  would  have 
been  trifling  for  one  of  the  frame  and  habits  of  the  sailor, 
more  especially  as  he  could  slightly  avail  himself  of  his 
feet,  by  pressing  them  against  the  rocks ;  but,  as  it  was,  he 
felt  as  if  he  were  dragging  the  mountain  up  after  him.  At 
length,  his  head  appeared  a  few  inches  above  the  rocks, 
but  with  his  feet  pressed  against  the  cliff,  and  his  body  in 
clining  outward,  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees. 

"Help  him — help  him,  father!"  exclaimed  Mildred, 
covering  her  face  with  her  hands,  to  exclude  the  sight  of 
Wychecombe's  desperate  struggles.  "  If  he  fall  nowr,  he 
will  be  destroyed.  Oh  !  save  him,  save  him,  Sir  Wycherly  !  " 

But  neither  of  those  to  whom  she  appealed  could  be  of 
any  use.  The  nervous  trembling  again  came  over  the 
father  ;  and  as  for  the  Baronet,  age  and  inexperience  ren 
dered  him  helpless. 

"  Have  you  no  rope,  Mr.  Dutton,  to  throw  over  my 
shoulders  ? "  cried  Wychecombe,  suspending  his  exertions 


26  THE    TUrO   ADMIRALS. 

in  pure  exhaustion,  still  keeping  all  he  had  gained,  with 
his  face  projecting  outward,  over  the  abyss  beneath,  and 
his  head  turned  toward  heaven.  "Throw  a  rope  over  my 
shoulders  and  drag  my  body  in  to  the  cliff." 

Dutton  showed  an  eager  desire  to  comply,  but  his  nerves 
had  not  yet  been  excited  by  the  usual  potation,  and  his 
hand  shook  in  a  way  to  render  it  questionable  whether  he 
could  perform  even  this  simple  service.  But  for  his  daugh 
ter,  indeed,  he  would  hardly  have  set  about  it  intelligently. 
Mildred,  accustomed  to  using  the  signal-halyards,  pro 
cured  the  old  line,  and  handed  it  to  her  father,  who  dis 
covered  some  of  his  professional  knowledge  in  his  manner 
of  using  it.  Doubling  the  halyards  twice,  he  threw  the 
bight  over  Wychecombc's  shoulders,  and,  aided  by  Mil 
dred,  endeavored  to  draw  the  body  of  the  young  man  up 
ward  and  toward  the  cliff.  But  their  united  strength  was 
unequal  to  the  task,  and  wearied  with  holding1  on,  and,  in 
deed,  unable  to  support  his  own  weight  any  longer  by  so 
small  a  rope,  Wychecombe  felt  compelled  to  suffer  his  feet 
to  drop  beneath  him,  and  slid  down  again  upon  the  ledge. 
Here,  even  his  vigorous  frame  shook  with  its  prodigious 
exertions  ;  and  he  was  compelled  to  seat  himself,  on  the 
shelf,  and  rest  with  his  back  against  the  cliff,  to  recover 
his  self-command  and  strength.  Mildred  uttered  a  faint 
shriek  as  he  disappeared,  but  was  too  much  horror-stricken 
to  approach  the  verge  of  the  precipice  to  ascertain  his 
fate. 

"  Be  composed,  Milly,"  said  her  father,  "he  is  safe,  as 
you  may  see  by  the  halyards  ;  and  to  say  the  truth,  the 
stuff  holds  on  well.  So  long  as  the  line  proves  true,  the  boy 
can't  fall  ;  he  has  taken  a  double  turn  with  the  end  of  it 
round  his  body.  Make  your  mind  easy,  girl,  for  I  feel 
better  now,  and  see  my  way  clear.  Don't  be  uneasy,  Sir 
Wycherly  ;  we'll  have  the  lad  safe  on  terra  finna  again,  in 
ten  minutes.  I  scarce  know  what  has  come  over  me,  this 
morning  ;  but  I've  not  had  the  command  of  my  limbs  as 
in  common.  It  cannot  be  fright,  for  I've  seen  too  many 
men  in  danger  to  be  disabled  by  that ;  and  I  think,  Milly, 
it  must  be  the  rheumatism,  of  which  I've  so  often  spoken, 
and  which  I've  inherited  from  my  poor  mother,  dear  old 
soul.  Do  you  know,  Sir  Wycherly,  that  rheumatism  can 
be  inherited  like  gout  ?" 

"  I  dare  say  it  may — I  dare  sny  it  may,  Dutton  ;  but 
never  mind  the  disease  now  ;  get  my  young  namesake 


THI-:  Tiro  ADMIRALS.  27 

back  here  on  the  grass,  and  I  will  hear  all  about  it.  I 
would  give  the  world  that  I  had  not  sent  Dick  to  Mr. 
Rotherham's  this  morning.  Can't  we  contrive  to  make 
the  pony  pull  the  boy  up  ? " 

"The  traces  are  hardly  strong  enough  for  such  work, 
Sir  Wycherly.  Have  a  little  patience,  and  I  \vill  manage 
the  whole  thing,  'ship-shape,  and  Brister  fashion,'  as  we 
say  at  sea.  Halloo  there,  Master  "Wychecombe — answer 
my  hail,  and  I  will  soon  get  you  into  deep  water." 

"  I'm  safe  on  the  ledge,"  returned  the  voice  of  Wyche 
combe,  from  below  ;  "  I  wish  you  would  look  to  the  sig 
nal-halyards,  and  see  they  do  not  chafe  against  the  rocks, 
Mr.  Button." 

"All  right,  sir  ;  all  right.  Slack  up,  if  you  please,  and 
let  me  have  all  the  line  you  can,  without  casting  off  from 
your  body.  Keep  fast  the  end  for  fear  of  accidents." 

In  an  instant  the  halyards  slackened,  and  Button,  who 
by  this  time  had  gained  his  self-command,  though  still 
weak  and  unnerved  by  the  habits  of  the  last  fifteen  years, 
forced  the  bight  along  the  edge  of  the  cliff,  until  he  had 
brought  it  over  a  projection  of  the  rocks,  where  it  fastened 
itself.  This  arrangement  caused  the  line  to  lead  down 
to  the  part  of  the  cliffs  from  which  the  young  man  had 
fallen,  and  where  it  was  by  no  means  difficult  for  a  steady 
head  and  active  limbs  to  move  about  and  pluck  flowers. 
It  consequently  remained  for  Wychecombe  merely  to  re 
gain  a  footing  on  that  part  of  the  hill-side,  to  ascend  to 
the  summit  without  difficulty. 

It  is  true  he  was  now  below  the  point  from  which  he 
had  fallen,  but  by  swinging  himself  off  laterally,  or  even 
by  springing,  aided  by  the  line,  it  \vas  not  a  difficult 
achievement  to  reach  it,  and  he  no  sooner  understood  the 
nature  of  the  change  that  had  been  made,  than  he  set  about 
attempting  it.  The  confident  manner  of  Button  encour 
aged  both  the  Baronet  and  Mildred,  and  they  drew  to  the 
cliff  again,  standing  near  the  verge,  though  on  the  part 
where  the  rocks  might  be  descended,  with  less  apprehen 
sion  of  consequences. 

As  soon  as  Wychecombe  had  made  all  his  preparations, 
he  stood  on  the  end  of  the  ledge,  tightened  the  line,  looked 
carefully  for  a  foothold  on  the  other  side  of  the  chasm, 
and  made  his  leap.  As  a  matter  of  course,  the  body  of 
the  young  man  swung  readily  across  the  space,  until  the 
line  became  perpendicular,  and  then  he  found  a  surface 


28  THE   Tiro  ADMIRALS, 

so  broken  as  to  render  his  ascent  by  no  means  difficult, 
aided  as  he  was  by  the  halyards.  Scrambling  upward,  he 
soon  rejected  the  aid  of  the  line,  and  sprang  upon  the 
headland.  At  the  same  instant,  Mildred  fell  senseless  on 
the  grass. 


CHAPTER   III. 

I  want  a  hero — an  uncommon  want, 

When  every  year  and  month  send  forth  a  new  one ; 

Till,  after  cloying  the  gazettes  with  cant, 

The  age  discovers  he  is  not  the  true  one. — BYRON. 

IN  consequence  of  the  unsteadiness  of  the  father's  nerves, 
the  duty  of  raising  Mildred  in  his  arms,  and  of  carrying 
her  to  the  cottage,  devolved  on  the  young  man.  This 
he  did  with  a  readiness  and  concern  which  proved  how 
deep  an  interest  he  took  in  her  situation,  and  with  a  power 
of  arm  which  showed  that  his  strength  was  increased  rather 
than  lessened  by  the  condition  into  which  she  had  fallen. 
So  rapid  was  his  movement,  that  no  one  saw  the  kiss  he 
impressed  on  the  pallid  cheek  of  the  sweet  girl,  or  the  ten 
der  pressure  with  which  he  grasped  the  lifeless  form.  By 
the  time  he  reached  the  door,  the  motion  and  air  had  be 
gun  to  revive  her,  and  Wychecombe  committed  her  to  the 
care  of  her  alarmed  mother,  with  a  few  hurried  words  of 
explanation.  He  did  not  leave  the  house,  however,  for  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  except  to  call  out  to  Button  that  Mil 
dred  was  reviving,  and  that  he  need  be  under  no  uneasi 
ness  on  her  account.  Why  he  remained  so  long,  we  leave 
the  reader  to  imagine,  for  the  girl  had  been  immediately 
taken  to  her  o\vn  little  chamber,  and  he  saw  her  no  more 
for  several  hours. 

When  our  young  sailor  came  out  upon  the  headland 
again,  he  found  the  party  near  the  flag-staff  increased  to 
four.  Dick,  the  groom,  had  returned  from  his  errand,  and 
Tom  Wychecombe,  the  intended  heir  of  the  Baronet,  was 
also  there,  in  mourning  for  his  reputed  father,  the  judge. 
The  young  man  had  become  a  frequent  visitor  to  the  sta 
tion,  of  late,  affecting  to  imbibe  his  uncle's  taste  for  sea 
air,  and  a  view  of  the  ocean. 

There  had  been  several  meetings  between  him  and  his 
namesake,  and  each  interview  was  becoming  less  amicable 
than  the  preceding,  for  a  reason  that  was  sufficiently 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  29 

known  to  the  parties.  When  they  met  on  the  present  oc 
casion,  therefore,  the  bows  they  exchanged  were  haughty 
and  distant,  and  the  glances  cast  at  each  other  might  have 
been  termed  hostile,  were  it  not  that  a  sinister  irony  was 
blended  with  that  of  Tom  Wychecombe.  Still,  the  feel 
ings  that  were  uppermost  did  not  prevent  the  latter  from 
speaking  in  an  apparently  friendly  manner. 

"  They  tell  me,  Mr.  Wychecombe,"  observed  the  judge's 
heir — for  this  Tom  Wychecombe  might  legally  claim  to  be 
— "they  tell  me,  Mr.  Wychecombe,  that  you  have  been 
taking  a  lesson  in  your  trade  this  morning,  by  swinging 
over  the  cliffs  at  the  end  of  a  rope  ?  Now,  that  is  an  exploit 
more  to  the  taste  of  an  American  than  to  that  of  an  En 
glishman,  I  should  think.  But,  I  dare  say  one  is  com 
pelled  to  do  many  things  in  the  colonies,  that  we  never 
dream  of  at  home." 

This  was  said  with  seeming  indifference,  though  with 
great  art.  Sir  Wycherly's  principal  weakness  was  an  over 
weening  and  an  ignorant  admiration  of  his  own  country, 
and  all  it  contained.  He  was  also  strongly  addicted  to  that 
feeling  of  contempt  for  the  dependencies  of  the  empire, 
which  seems  to  be  inseparable  from  the  political  connec 
tion  between  the  people  of  the  metropolitan  country  and 
their  colonies.  There  must  be  entire  equality,  for  perfect 
respect,  in  any  situation  in  life  :  and,  as  a  rule,  men  always 
appropriate  to  their  own  shares  any  admitted  superiority 
that  may  happen  to  exist  on  the  part  of  the  communities 
to  which  they  belong.  It  is  on  this  principle  that  the 
tenant  of  a  cock-loft  in  Paris  or  London  is  so  apt  to  feel  a 
high  claim  to  superiority  over  the  occupant  of  a  comforta 
ble  abode  in  a  village.  As  between  England  and  her 
North  American  colonies  in  particular,  this  feeling  was 
stronger  than  is  the  case  usually,  on  account  of  the  early 
democratical  tendencies  of  the  latter  ;  not  that  these  ten 
dencies  had  already  become  the  subject  of  political  jeal 
ousies,  but  that  they  left  social  impressions  which  were 
singularly  adapted  to  bring  the  colonists  into  contempt 
among  a  people  predominant  for  their  own  factitious 
habits,  and  who  are  so  strongly  inclined  to  view  everything, 
even  to  principles,  through  the  medium  of  arbitrary,  con 
ventional  customs.  It  must  be  confessed  that  the  Ameri 
cans,  in  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  were  an 
exceedingly  provincial,  and  in  many  particulars  a  narrow- 
minded  people,  as  well  in  their  opinions  as  in  their  habits; 


3° 


THE  TWO   ADMIRALS. 


nor  is  the  reproach  altogether  removed  at  the  present  day  ; 
but  the  country  from  which  they  are  derived  had  not  then 
made  the  vast  strides  in  civilization,  for  which  it  has  latter 
ly  become  so  distinguished.  The  indifference,  too,  with 
which  all  Europe  regarded  the  whole  American  continent, 
and  to  which  England  herself,  though  she  possessed  so 
large  a  stake  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  formed  no  mate 
rial  exception,  constantly  led  that  quarter  of  the  world  into 
profound  mistakes  in  all  its  reasoning  that  was  connected 
with  this  quarter  of  the  world,  and  aided  in  producing  the 
state  of  feeling  to  which  \ve  have  alluded.  Sir  Wycherly 
felt  and  reasoned  on  the  subject  of  America  much  as  the 
great  bulk  of  his  countrymen  felt  and  reasoned  in  1745  ; 
the  exceptions  existing  only  among  the  enlightened,  and 
those  whose  particular  duties  rendered  more  correct  knowl 
edge  necessary,  and  not  always  among  them.  It  is  said 
that  the  English  minister  conceived  the  idea  of  taxing 
America,  from  the  circumstance  of  seeing  a  wealthy  Vir 
ginian  lose  a  large  sum  at  play,  a  sort  of  argumentiim  ad 
liomincm  that  brought  with  it  a  very  dangerous  conclusion 
to  apply  to  the  sort  of  people  with  whom  he  had  to  deal. 
Let  this  be  as  it  might,  there  is  no  more  question,  that  at 
the  period  of  our  tale,  the  profoundest  ignorance  concern 
ing  America  existed  generally  in  the  mother  country,  than 
there  is  that  the  profoundest  respect  existed  in  America 
for  everything  English.  Truth  compels  us  to  add,  that  in 
spite  of  all  that  has  passed,  the  cis-atlantic  portion  of  the 
weakness  has  longest  endured  the  assaults  of  time  and  of 
an  increased  intercourse. 

Young  Wycherly,  as  is  ever  the  case,  was  keenly  alive  to 
any  insinuations  that  might  be  supposed  to  reflect  on  the 
portion  of  the  empire  of  which  he  was  a  native. 

He  considered  himself  an  Englishman,  it  is  true  ;  was 
thoroughly  loyal  ;  and  was  every  way  disposed  to  sustain 
the  honor  and  interests  of  the  seat  of  authority  ;  but  when 
questions  were  raised  between  Europe  and  America,  he 
was  an  American  ;  as,  in  America  itself,  he  regarded  him 
self  as  purely  a  Virginian,  in  contradistinction  to  all  other 
colonies.  He  understood  the  intended  sarcasm  of  Tom 
Wychecombe,  but  smothered  his  resentment,  out  of  respect 
to  the  Baronet,  and  perhaps  a  little  influenced  by  the  feel 
ings  in  which  he  had  been  so  lately  indulging. 

"Those  gentlemen  who  arc  disposed  to  fancy  such 
things  of  the  colonies,  would  do  well  to  visit  that  part  of 


THE    TWO  AOimsS.  ;r 


the  world,"  he  answered  calmly,  ""before  they  express 
their  opinions  too  loudly,  lest  they  should  say  something 
future  observation  might  make  them  wish  to  recall." 

"  True,  my  young  friend — quite  true,"  put  in  the 
Baronet,  with  the  kindest  possible  intentions.  "True,  as 
gospel.  We  never  know  anything  of  matters  about  which 
we  do  nothing ;  that  we  old  men  must  admit,  Master 
Button,  and  I  should  think  Torn  must  see  its  force.  It 
would  be  unreasonable  to  expect  to  find  everything  as 
comfortable  in  America  as  we  have  it  here,  in  England  ;  nor 
do  I  suppose  the  Americans  in  general  would  be  as  likely 
to  get  over  a  cliff  as  an  Englishman.  However,  there  are 
exceptions  to  all  general  rules,  as  my  poor  brother  James 
used  to  say,  when  he  saw  occasion  to  find  fault  with  the 
sermon  of  a  prelate.  I  believe  you  did  not  know  my 
poor  brother,  Button ;  he  must  have  been  killed  about  the 
time  you  were  born — St.  James,  I  used  to  call  him,  al 
though  my  brother  Thomas,  the  judge  that  was,  Tom's 
father,  there — said  he  was  St.  James  the  Less." 

"  I  believe  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wychecombe  was  dead  before 
I  was  of  an  age  to  remember  his  virtues,  Sir  Wycherly," 
said  Button,  respectfully  ;  "  though  I  have  often  heard 
my  own  father  speak  of  all  your  honored  family." 

"Yes,  your  father,  Button,  was  the  attorney  of  the  next 
town,  and  we  all  knew  him  well.  You  have  done  quite 
right  to  come  back  among  us  to  spend  the  close  of  your 
own  days.  A  man  is  never  as  well  off  as  when  he  is  thriv 
ing  in  his  native  soil  ;  more  especially  when  the  soil  is  old 
England  and  Bevonshire.  You  are  not  one  of  us,  young 
gentleman,  though  your  name  happens  to  be  Wyche 
combe  ;  but  then  we  are  none  of  us  accountable  for  our 
own  births,  or  birthplaces." 

This  truism,  which  is  in  the  mouths  of  thousands  while 
it  is  in  the  hearts  of  scarcely  any,  was  well  meant  by  Sir 
Wycherly,  however  plainly  expressed.  It  merely  drew 
from  the  youth  the  simple  answer  that  "he  was  born  in 
the  colonies,  and  had  colonists  for  parents  ; "  a  fact  that  the 
others  had  heard  already  some  ten  or  a  dozen  times. 

"  It  is  a  little  singular,  Mr.  Wychecombe,  that  you  should 
bear  both  of  my  names,  and  yet  be  no  relative,"  continued- 
the  Baronet.  "Now,  Wycherly  came  into  our  family  from 
old  Sir  Hildebrand  Wycherly,  who  was  slain  at  Bosworth 
Field,  and  whose  only  daughter,  my  ancestor,  and  Tom's 
ancestor,  there,  married.  Since  that  day,  Wycherly  has  been 


32  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

a  favorite  name  among  us.  I  do  not  think  that  the  Wyche- 
combes  of  Herts  ever  thought  of  calling  a  son  Wycherly, 
although,  as  my  poor  brother  the  judge  used  to  say,  they 
were  related,  but  of  the  half-blood  only.  I  suppose  your 
father  taught  you  what  is  meant  by  being  of  the  half- 
blood,  Thomas  ?" 

Tom  Wychecombe's  face  became  the  color  of  scarlet, 
and  he  cast  an  uneasy  glance  at  all  present  ;  expecting  in 
particular  to  meet  with  a  look  of  exultation  in  the  eyes  of 
the  Lieutenant.  He  was  greatly  relieved,  however,  at 
finding  that  neither  of  the  three  meant  or  understood 
more  than  was  simply  expressed.  As  for  his  uncle,  he 
had  not  the  smallest  intention  of  making  any  allusion  to 
the  peculiarity  of  his  nephew's  birth  ;  and  the  other  t\vo, 
in  common  with  the  world,  supposed  the  reputed  heir  to 
be  legitimate.  Gathering  courage  from  the  looks  of  those 
around  him,  Tom  answered,  with  a  steadiness  that  pre 
vented  his  agitation  from  being  detected — 

"  Certainly  my  dear  sir ;  my  excellent  parent  forgot 
nothing  that  he  thought  might  be  useful  to  me,  in  main 
taining  my  rights  and  the  honor  of  the  family,  hereafter. 
I  very  well  understand  that  the  Wychecombes  of  Hertford 
shire  have  no  claims  on  us ;  nor,  indeed,  any  Wychecombe 
who  is  not  descended  from  my  respectable  grandfather, 
the  late  Sir  Wycherly." 

"  He  must  have  been  an  early  instead  of  a  late  Sir 
Wycherly,  rather,  Mr.  Thomas,"  put  in  Button,  laughing 
at  his  own  conceit;  "for  I  can  remember  no  other  than 
the  honorable  Baronet  before  us.  in  the  last  fifty  years." 

"Quite  true,  Button — very  true,"  rejoined  the  person 
last  alluded  to.  "  As  true  as  that  '  Time  and  tide  wait  for 
no  man.'  We  understand  the  meaning  of  such  things  on 
the  coast  here.  It  was  half  a  century  last  October,  since  I 
succeeded  my  respected  parent  ;  but  it  will  not  be  another 
half  century  before  some  one  will  succeed  me  ! " 

Sir  Wycherly  was  a  hale,  hearty  man  for  his  years,  but 
he  had  no  unmanly  dread  of  his  end.  Still  he  felt  it  could 
not  be  very  distant,  having  already  numbered  fourscore 
and  four  years.  Nevertheless,  there  were  certain  phrases 
of  usage,  that  Button  did  not  see  fit  to  forget  on  such  an 
occasion,  and  he  answered  accordingly,  turning  to  look  at 
and  admire  the  still  ruddy  countenance  of  the  Baronet,  by 
way  of  giving  emphasis  to  his  words. 

"  You  will  yet  sec  half  of  us  in  our  graves,  Sir  Wycherly," 


THE    TirO   ADMIRALS.  33 

said  he,  "and  still  remain  an  active  man.  Though  I  dare  say 
another  half  century  will  bring  most  of  us  up  there.  Even 
Mr.  Thomas,  here,  and  your  young  namesake  can  hardly 
hope  to  run  out  more  line  than  that.  Well,  as  for  myself, 
I  only  desire  to  live  through  this  war,  that  I  may  again  see 
his  Majesty's  arms  triumphant  ;  though  they  do  tell  me 
that  we  are  in  for  a  good  thirty  years'  struggle.  Wars  hai-e 
lasted  as  long  as  that,  Sir  Wycherly,  and  I  don't  see  why 
this  may  not,  as  well  as  another." 

"Very  true,  Button  ;  it  is  not  only  possible,  but  prob 
able  ;  and  I  trust  both  you  and  I  may  live  to  see  our  flower- 
hunter,  here,  a  post-captain,  at  least — though  it  would  be 
wishing  almost  too  much  to  expect  to  see  him  an  admiral. 
There  has  been  one  admiral  of  the  name,  and  I  confess  I 
should  like  to  see  another  ! " 

"Has  not  Mr.  Thomas  a  brother  in  the  service?"  de 
manded  the  master;  "I  had  thought  that  my  lord,  the 
judge,  had  given  us  one  of  his  young  gentlemen." 

"He  thought  of  it  ;  but  the  army  got  both  of  the  boys, 
as  it  turned  out.  Gregory  was  to  be  the  midshipman  ;  my 
poor  brother  intending  him  for  a  sailor  from  the  first,  and 
so  giving  him  the  name  that  was  once  borne  by  the  unfor 
tunate  relative  we  lost  by  shipwreck.  I  wished  him  to  call 
one  of  the  lads  James,  after  St.  James  ;  but  somehow,  I 
never  could  persuade  Thomas  to  see  all  the  excellence  of 
that  pious  young  man." 

Button  was  a  little  embarrassed,  for  St.  James  had  left 
any  tiling  but  a  goodly  savor  behind  him  ;  and  he  was  about 
to  fabricate  a  tolerably  bold  assertion  to  the  contrary, 
rather  than  incur  the  risk  of  offending  the  lord  of  the 
manor,  when,  luckily,  a  change  in  the  state  of  the  fog  af 
forded  him  a  favorable  opportunity  of  bringing  about  an 
apposite  change  in  the  subject.  During  the  whole  of  the 
morning  the  sea  had  been  invisible  from  the  headland,  a 
dense  body  of  vapor  resting  on  it,  far  as  the  eye  could 
reach  ;  veiling  the  whole  expanse  with  a  single  white  cloud. 
The  lighter  portions  of  the  vapor  had  at  first  floated  around 
the  headland,  which  could  not  have  been  seen  at  any  ma 
terial  distance  ;  but  all  had  been  gradually  settling  down 
into  a  single  mass,  that  now  rose  within  twenty  feet  of  the 
summit  of  the  cliffs.  The  hour  was  still  quite  early,  but  the 
sun  was  gaining  force,  and  it  speedily  drank  up  all  the 
lighter  particles  of  the  mist,  leaving  a  clear,  bright  atmos 
phere  above  the  feathery  bank,  through  which  objects 


34  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

might  be  seen  for  miles.  There  was  what  seamen  call  a 
"  fanning  breeze,"  or  just  wind  enough  to  cause  the  light 
sails  of  a  ship  to  swell  and  collapse,  under  the  double  in 
fluence  of  the  air  and  the  motion  of  the  hull,  imitating  in 
a  slight  degree  the  vibrations  of  that  familiar  appliance  of 
the  female  toilet.  Button's  eye  had  caught  a  glance  of  the 
loftiest  sail  of  a  vessel,  above  the  fog,  going  through  this 
very  movement  ;  and  it  afforded  him  the  release  he  de 
sired,  by  enabling  him  to  draw  the  attention  of  his  com 
panions  to  the  same  object. 

"  See,  Sir  Wycherly — see,  Mr.  Wychecombe,"  he  cried, 
eagerly,  pointing  in  the  direction  of  the  sail  ;  "yonder  is 
some  of  the  king's  canvas  coming  into  our  roadstead,  or  I 
am  no  judge  of  the  act  of  a  man-of-war's  royal.  It  is  a 
large  bit  of  cloth,  too,  Mr.  Lieutenant,  for  a  sail  so  lofty." 

"  It  is  a  two-decker's  royal,  Master  Button,"  returned 
the  young  sailor;  "and  now  you  see  the  fore  and  main, 
separately,  as  the  ship  keeps  away." 

"Well,"  put  in  Sir  Wycherly,  in  a  resigned  manner ; 
"  here  have  I  lived  fourscore  years  on  this  coast,  and,  for 
the  life  of  me,  I  have  never  been  able  to  tell  a  fore-royal 
from  a  back-royal ;  or  a  mizzen  head-stay  from  a  head 
mizzen-stay.  They  are  the  most  puzzling  things  imagina 
ble  ;  and  now  I  cannot  discover  how  you  know  that  yon 
der  sail,  which  I  see  plain  enough,  is  a  royal,  any  more 
than  it  is  a  jib  !" 

Button  and  the  lieutenant  smiled,  but  Sir  Wycherly's 
simplicity  had  a  cast  of  truth  and  nature  about  it,  that  de 
terred  most  people  from  wishing  to  ridicule  him.  Then 
the  rank,  fortune,  and  local  interest  of  the  Baronet  counted 
for  a  good  deal  on  all  such  occasions. 

*•  Here  is  another  fellow,  farther  east,"  cried  Button, 
still  pointing  with  a  finger  ;  and  every  inch  as  big  as  his 
consort !  Ah!  it  does  my  eyes  good  to  see  our  roadstead 
come  into  notice,  in  this  manner,  after  all  I  have  said  and 
done  in  its  behalf — but,  who  have  we  here — a  brother  chip, 
by  his  appearance  ;  I  dare  say  some  idler,  who  has  been 
sent  ashore  with  dispatches." 

"There  is  another  fellow  farther  east,  and  every  inch  as 
big  as  his  consort,"  said  Wychecombe,  as  we  shall  call  our 
lieutenant,  in  order  to  distinguish  him  from  Tom  of  the 
same  name,  repeating  the  very  words  of  Button,  with  an 
application  and  readiness  that  almost  amounted  to  wit, 
pointing,  in  his  turn,  at  two  strangers  who  were  ascending 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  35 

to  the  station  by  a  path  that  led  from  the  beach.  "  Cer 
tainly  both  these  gentlemen  are  in  his  Majesty's  service, 
and  they  have  probably  just  landed  from  the  ships  in  the 
offing." 

The  truth  of  this  conjecture  was  apparent  to  Button  at 
a  glance.  As  the  strangers  joined  each  other,  the  one  last 
seen  proceeded  in  advance  ;  and  there  was  something  in 
his  years,  the  confident  manner  in  which  he  approached, 
and  his  general  appearance,  that  induced  both  the  sailors 
to  believe  he  might  be  the  commander  of  one  of  the  ships 
that  had  just  come  in  view. 

"  Good  morrow,  gentlemen,"  commenced  this  person,  as 
soon  as  near  enough  to  salute  the  party  at  the  foot  of  the 
flag-staff  ;  "good-morrow  to  ye  all.  I'm  glad  to  meet  you, 
for  it's  but  a  Jacob's  ladder,  this  path  of  yours,  through 
the  ravine  in  the  cliifs.  Hey !  why,  Atwood,"  looking 
around  him  at  the  sea  of  vapor,  in  surprise,  "  what  the 
devil  has  become  of  the  fleet  ?" 

"  It  is  lost  in  the  fog,  sir  ;  we  are  above  it,  here  ;  when 
more  on  a  level  with  the  ships  we  could  see,  or  fancy  we 
saw,  more  of  them  than  we  do  now." 

"  Here  are  the  upper  sails  of  two  heavy  ships,  sir,"  ob 
served  Wychecombe,  pointing  in  the  direction  of  the  ves 
sels  already  seen  ;  "ay,  and  yonder  are  two  more;  noth 
ing  but  the  royals  are  visible." 

"Two  more!  I  left  eleven  two-deckers,  three  frigates, 
a  sloop,  and  a  cutter  in  sight,  when  I  got  into  the  boat. 
You  might  have  covered  'em  all  with  a  pocket-handker 
chief,  hey,  Atwood?" 

"They  were  certainly  in  close  order,  sir,  but  I'll  not 
take  it  on  myself  to  say  quite  as  near  together  as  that." 

"Ay,  you're  a  dissenter  by  trade,  and  never  will  believe 
in  a  miracle.  Sharp  wrork,  gentlemen,  to  get  up  such  a 
hill  as  this,  after  fifty." 

"  It  is,  indeed,  sir,"  answered  Sir  Wycherly,  kindly.  "  Will 
you  do  us  the  favor  to  take  a  seat  among  us,  and  rest  your 
self  after  so  violent  an  exertion  ?  The  cliff  is  hard  enough 
to  ascend,  even  when  one  keeps  the  path  ;  though  here  is 
a  young  gentleman  who  had  a  fancy  just  now  to  go  down 
it,  without  a  path  ;  and  that,  too,  merely  that  a  pretty  girl 
might  ha,ve  a  nosegay  on  her  breakfast-table." 

The  stranger  looked  intently  at  Sir  Wycherly  for  a  mo 
ment,  then  glanced  his  eye  at  the  groom  and  the  pony,  af 
ter  which  he  took  a  survey  of  Tom  Wychecombe,  the  lieu- 


36  THE   TWO   ADMIRALS. 

tenant,  and  the  master.  He  was  a  man  accustomed  to  look 
about  him,  and  he  understood,  by  that  rapid  glance,  the 
characters  of  all  he  surveyed,  with  perhaps  the  exception 
of  that  of  Tom  Wychecombe  ;  and  even  of  that  he  formed 
a  tolerably  shrewd  conjecture.  Sir  Wycherly  he  immedi 
ately  set  down  as  the  Squire  of  the  adjacent  estate  ;  But 
ton's  situation  he  hit  exactly,  conceiving  him  to  be  a  worn- 
out  master,  who  was  employed  to  keep  the  signal-station  ; 
while  he  understood  Wychecombe,  by  his  undress,  and  air, 
to  be  a  Sea-Lieutenant  in  the  King's  service. 

Tom  Wychecombe  he  thought  it  quite  likely  might  be 
the  son  and  heir  of  the  lord  of  the  manor,  both  being  in 
mourning ;  though  he  decided  in  his  own  mind  that  there 
was  not  the  smallest  family  likeness  between  them.  Bow 
ing  with  the  courtesy  of  a  man  who  knew  how  to  acknowl 
edge  a  civility,  he  took  the  proffered  seat  at  Sir  Wycherly's 
side  without  farther  ceremony. 

"  We  must  carry  the  young  fellow  to  sea  with  us,  sir," 
rejoined  the  stranger,  "and  that  will  cure  him  of  looking 
for  flowers  in  such  ticklish  places.  His  Majesty  has  need 
of  us  all,  in  this  war  ;  and  I  trust,  young  gentleman,  you 
nave  not  been  long  ashore,  among  the  girls." 

''Only  long  enough  to  make  a  cure  of  a  pretty  smart 
hurt,  received  in  cutting  out  a  lugger  from  the  opposite 
coast,"  answered  Wychecombe,  with  sufficient  modesty, 
and  yet  with  sufficient  spirit. 

"  Lugger  ! — ha!  what,  Atwood  ?  You  sureiy  do  not  mean, 
young  gentleman,  La  Voltiguse  ?" 

"  That  was  the  name  of  the  craft,  sir — we  found  her  in 
the  roads  of  Groix." 

"  And  then  I've  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Mr.  Wychecombe, 
the  young  officer  who  led  in  the  attack  ? " 

This  wras  said  in  a  most  flattering  warmth  of  manner,  the 
stranger  even  rising  and  removing  his  hat,  as  he  uttered 
the  words  with  a  heartiness  that  showed  how  much  his 
feelings  were  in  unison  with  what  he  said. 

"  I  am  Mr.  Wychecombe,  sir,"  answered  the  other,  blush 
ing  to  the  temples,  and  returning  the  salute  ;  "though  I 
had  not  the  honor  of  leading  ;  one  of  the  lieutenants  of  our 
ship  being  in  another  boat." 

"Yes — I  know  all  that  ;  but  he  was  beaten  off,  while  you 
boarded  and  did  the  work.  What  have  my  lord  commis 
sioners  done  in  the  matter  ?  " 

"  All   that   is   necessary,  so  far  as  I  am  concerned,  sir,  I 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  37 

do  assure  you  ;  having  sent  me  a  commission  the  very  next 
week.  I  only  wish  they  had  been  equally  generous  to  Mr. 
Walton,  who  received  a  severe  wound  also,  and  behaved  as 
well  as  a  man  could  behave." 

"  That  would  not  be  so  wise,  Mr.  Wychecombe,  since  it 
would  be  rewarding  a  failure,"  returned  the  stranger  coldly. 
"  Success  is  all  in  all,  in  war.  Ah  !  there  the  fellows  begin 
to  show  themselves,  Atwood." 

This  remark  drew  all  eyes,  again,  toward  the  sea,  where 
a  sight  now  presented  itself  that  was  really  worthy  of  a 
passing  notice.  The  vapor  appeared  to  have  become 
packed  into  a  mass  of  some  eighty  or  a  hundred  feet  in 
height,  leaving  a  perfectly  clear  atmosphere  above  it.  In 
the  clear  air  were  visible  the  upper  spars  and  canvas  of 
the  entire  fleet  mentioned  by  the  stranger  ;  sixteen  sail  in 
all.  There  were  the  eleven  two-deckers,  and  the  three 
frigates,  rising  in  pyramids  of  canvas,  still  fanning  in  to 
ward  the  anchorage,  which  in  that  roadstead  was  within 
pistol-shot  of  the  shore  ;  while  the  royals  and  upper  part 
of  the  top-gallant  sails  of  the  sloop  seemed  to  stand  on 
the  surface  of  the  fog,  like  a  monument.  After  a  mo 
ment's  pause,  Wychecombe  discovered  even  the  head  of 
the  cutter's  royal-mast,  with  the  pennant  lazily  fluttering 
ahead  of  it,  partly  concealed  in  vapor.  The  fog  seemed 
to  settle,  instead  of  rising,  though  it  evidently  rolled  along 
the  face  of  the  waters,  putting  the  whole  scene  in  motion. 
It  was  not  long  ere  the  tops  of  the  ships  of  the  line  became 
invisible,  and  then  living  beings  were  for  the  first  time 
seen  in  the  moving  masses. 

"  I  suppose  we  offer  just  such  a  sight  to  the  topmen  of  the 
ships,  as  they  offer  to  us,"  observed  the  stranger.  "They 
must  see  this  headland  and  flag-staff,  Mr.  Wychecombe  ; 
and  there  can  be  no  danger  of  their  standing  in  too 
far  ? " 

"  I  should  think  not,  sir ;  certainly  the  man  aloft  can  see 
the  cliffs  above  the  fog,  as  we  see  the  vessels'  spars.  Ha ! 
Mr.  Button,  there  is  a  rear-admiral's  flag  flying  on  board 
the  ship  farthest  to  the  eastward." 

"  So  I  see,  sir  ;  and  by  looking  at  the  third  vessel  on  the 
western  side  of  the  line,  you  will  find  a  bit  of  square  bunt 
ing  at  the  fore,  which  will  tell  you  there  is  a  vice-admiral 
beneath  it." 

"  Quite  true  !"  exclaimed  Wychecombe,  who  was  ever 
enthusiastic  on  matters  relating  to  his  profession  ;  "  a  vice- 


38  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

admiral  of  the  red,  too  ;  which  is  the  next  step  to  being  a 
full  admiral.  This  must  be  the  fleet  of  Sir  Digby  Downes  !" 

"No,  young  gentleman,"  returned  the  stranger,  who 
perceived  by  the  glance  of  the  other's  eye  that  a  question 
was  indirectly  put  to  himself;  "it  is  the  southern  squad 
ron  ;  and  the  vice-admiral's  flag,  you  see,  belongs  to  Sir 
Gervaise  Cakes.  Admiral  Bluewater  is  on  board  the  ship 
that  carries  a  flag  at  the  mizzen." 

"Those  two  officers  always  go  together,  Sir  Wycherly," 
added  the  young  man.  "Whenever  we  hear  the  name  of 
Sir  Gervaise,  that  of  Bluewater  is  sure  to  accompany  it. 
Such  a  union  in  service  is  delightful  to  witness." 

"Well  may  they  go  in  company,  Mr.  Wychecombe," 
returned  the  stranger,  betraying  a  little  emotion.  "  Oakes 
and  Bluewater  were  reefers  together,  under  old  Bresthook, 
in  the  Mermaid  ;  and  when  the  first  was  made  a  lieutenant 
into  the  Squid,  the  last  followed  as  a  mate.  Oakes  was 
first  of  the  Briton,  in  her  action  with  the  Spanish  frigates,  and 
Bluewater  third.  For  that  affair  Oakes  got  a  sloop,  and 
his  friend  went  with  him  as  his  first.  The  next  year  they 
had  the  luck  to  capture  a  heavier  ship  than  their  own, 
when,  for  the  first  time  in  their  service,  the  two  young  men 
were  separated  ;  Oakes  getting  a  frigate,  and  Bluewater 
getting  the  Squid.  Still  they  cruised  in  company,  until 
the  senior  was  sent  in  command  of  a  flying  squadron,  with 
a  broad  pennant,  when  the  junior,  who  by  this  time  was 
post,  received  his  old  messmate  on  board  his  own  frigate. 
In  that  manner  they  served  together,  down  to  the  hour 
when  the  first  hoisted  his  flag.  From  that  time,  the  two 
old  seamen  have  never  been  parted  ;  Bluewater  acting  as 
the  admiral's  captain,  until  he  got  the  square  bunting  him 
self.  The  vice-admiral  has  never  led  the  van  of  a  fleet 
that  the  rear-admiral  did  not  lead  the  rear  division  ;  and, 
now  that  Sir  Gervaise  is  a  commander-in-chief,  you  see 
his  friend,  Dick  Bluewater,  is  cruising  in  his  company." 

While  the  stranger  was  giving  this  account  of  the  Two 
Admirals,  in  a  half  serious,  half  jocular  manner,  the  eyes 
of  his  companions  were  on  him.  He  was  a  middle-sized, 
red-faced  man,  with  an  aquiline  nose,  a  light-blue  animated 
eye,  and  a  mouth  which  denoted  more  of  the  habits  and 
care  of  refinement  than  either  his  dress  or  his  ordinary 
careless  mien.  A  great  deal  is  said  about  the  aristocracy 
of  the  ears,  and  the  hands,  and  the  feet ;  but  of  all  the 
features,  or  other  appliances  of  the  human  frame,  the 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  39 

mouth  and  the  nose  have  the  greatest  influence  in  produc 
ing  an  impression  of  gentility.  This  was  peculiarly  the 
case  with  the  stranger,  whose  beak,  like  that  of  an  ancient 
galley,  gave  the  promise  of  a  stately  movement,  and  whose 
beautiful  teeth  and  winning  smile  often  relieved  the  ex 
pression  of  a  countenance  that  was  not  unfrequently  stern. 
As  he  ceased  speaking,  Button  rose,  in  a  studied  manner, 
raised  his  hat  entirely  from  his  head,  bowed  his  head  near 
ly  to  a  right  angle,  and  said  : 

"Unless  my  memory  is  treacherous,  I  believe  I  have  the 
honor  to  see  Rear-Admiral  Bluewater,  himself ;  I  was  a 
mate  in  the  Medway,  when  he  commanded  the  Chloe  ;  and, 
unless  five  and  twenty  years  have  made  more  changes  than 
I  think  probable,  he  is  now  on  the  hill." 

"Your  memory  is  a  bad  one,  Mr.  Button,  and  your  hill 
has  on  it  a  much  worse  man,  in  all  respects,  than  Admiral 
Bluewater.  They  say  that  man  and  wife,  from  living  to 
gether,  and  thinking  alike,  having  the  same  affections, 
loving  the  same  objects,  or  sometimes  hating  them,  get  in 
time  to  look  alike;  hey,  Atwood  ?  It  may  be  that  I  am 
growing  like  Bluewater,  on  the  same  principle  ;  but  this  is 
the  first  time  I  ever  heard  the  thing  suggested.  I  am  Sir 
Gervaise  Oake's,  at  your  service,  sir." 

The  bow  of  Button  was  now  much  lower  than  before, 
while  young  Wychecombe  uncovered  himself,  and  Sir 
Wycherly  arose  and  paid  his  compliments  cordially,  intro 
ducing  himself,  and  offering  the  Admiral  and  all  his  offi 
cers  the  hospitality  of  the  Hall. 

"  Aye,  this  is  straight-forward  and  hearty,  and  in  the 
good  old  English  manner !  "  exclaimed  the  Admiral,  when 
he  had  returned  the  salutes,  and  cordially  thanked  the  Bar 
onet.  "  One  might  land  in  Scotland,  now,  anywhere  be 
tween  the  Tweed  and  John  o'Groats  house,  and  not  be 
asked  so  much  as  to  eat  an  oaten  cake  ;  hey,  Atwood?  al 
ways  excepting  the  mountain  dew." 

"You  will  have  your  fling  at  my  poor  countrymen,  Sir 
Gervaise,  and  so  there  is  no  more  to  be  said  on  the  sub 
ject,"  returned  the  secretary,  for  such  was  the  rank  of  the 
Admiral's  companion.  "I  might  feel  hurt  at  times,  did  I 
not  know  that  you  get  as  many  Scotsmen  about  you,  in 
your  own  ship,  as  you  can  ;  and  that  a  fleet  is  all  the  bet 
ter  in  your  judgment,  for  having  every  other  captain  from 
the  land  o*  cakes." 

"  Bid  you  ever  hear  the  like  of  that,  Sir  Wycherly  ?   Be- 


40  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

cause  I  stick  to  a  man  I  like,  he  accuses  me  of  having  a 
predilection  for  his  whole  country.  Here's  Atwood,  now  ; 
he  was  my  clerk,  when  in  a  sloop  ;  and  he  has  followed 
me  to  the  Plantagenet,  and  because  I  do  not  throw  him 
overboard,  he  wishes  to  make  it  appear  half  Scotland  is  in 
her  hold." 

"Well,  there  are  the  surgeon,  the  purser,  one  of  the  mates, 
one  of  the  marine  officers,  and  the  fourth  lieutenant,  to 
keep  me  company,  Sir  Gervaise,"  said  the  secretary,  smil 
ing  like  one  accustomed  to  his  superior's  jokes,  and  who 
cared  very  little  about  them.  "  When  you  send  us  all  back 
to  Scotland,  I'm  thinking  there  wrill  be  many  a  good  va 
cancy  to  fill." 

"The  Scotch  make  themselves  very  useful,  Sir  Ger 
vaise,"  put  in  Sir  Wycherly,  by  way  of  smoothing  the 
matter  over;  "and  now  we  have  a  Brunswick  prince  on 
the  throne,  we  Englishmen  have  less  jealousy  of  them 
than  formerly.  I  am  sure  I  should  be  happy  to  see  all 
the  gentlemen  mentioned  by  Mr.  Atwood,  at  Wychecombe 
Hall." 

"  There,  you're  all  well  berthed  while  the  fleet  lies  in 
these  roads.  Sir  Wycherly,  in  the  name  of  Scotland,  I 
thank  you.  But  what  an  extr'onary  (for  so  admirals 
pronounced  the  word  a  hundred  years  ago)  scene  this  is, 
hey,  Atwood?  Many  a  time  I  have  seen  the  hulls  of  ships 
when  their  spars  were  hid  in  the  fog  ;  but  I  do  not  re 
member  ever  to  have  seen  before,  sixteen  sets  of  masts  and 
sails  moving  about  on  vapor,  without  a  single  hull  to  up 
hold  them.  The  tops  of  all  the  two-decked  ships  are  as 
plainly  to  be  seen,  as  if  the  air  were  without  a  particle  of 
vapor,  while  all  below  the  cat-harpings  is  hid  in  the  cloud 
as  thick  as  the  smoke  of  battle.  I  do  not  half  like  Blue- 
water's  standing  in  so  far  ;  perhaps,  Mr.  Button,  they  can 
not  see  the  cliffs,  for  I  assure  you  we  did  not,  until  quite 
close  under  them.  We  went  altogether  by  the  lead,  the 
masters  feeling  their  way  like  so  many  blind  beggars  !" 

••We  always  keep  that  nine-pounder  loaded,  Sir  Ger 
vaise/'  returned  the  master,  "in  order  to  warn  vessels 
when  they  are  getting  near  enough  in  ;  and  if  Mr.  Wyche 
combe,  who  is  younger  than  I,  will  run  to  the  house  and 
light  this  match,  I  will  prime,  and  we  may  give  'em  warn 
ing  where  they  are,  in  less  than  a  minute." 

The  Admiral  gave  a  ready  assent  to  this  proposition,  and 
the  respective  parties  immediately  set  about  putting  it  in 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  41 

execution.  Wychecombe  hastened  to  the  house  to  light  the 
match,  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  inquire  after  Mildred  ; 
while  Button  produced  a  priming-horn  from  a  sort  of  arm- 
chest  that  stood  near  the  gun,  and  put  the  latter  in  a  condi 
tion  to  be  discharged.  The  young  man  was  absent  but  a 
minute,  and  when  all  was  ready,  he  turned  toward  the 
Admiral  in  order  to  get  the  signal  to  proceed. 

"Let  'em  have  it,  Mr.  Wychecombe,"  cried  Sir  Gervaise, 
smiling;  "it  will  wake  Bluewater  up;  perhaps  he  may 
favor  us  with  a  broadside,  by  way  of  retort." 

The  match  was  applied,  and  the  report  of  the  gun  suc 
ceeded.  Then  followed  a  pause  of  more  than  a  minute  ; 
when  the  fog  lifted  around  the  Caesar,  the  ship  that  wore 
a  rear-admiral's  flag,  a  flash  like  lightning  was  seen  glanc 
ing  in  the  midst,  and  then  came  the  bellowing  of  a  piece 
of  heavy  ordnance.  Almost  at  the  same  instant,  three 
little  flags  appeared  at  the  mast  head  of  the  Caesar,  for  pre 
viously  to  quitting  his  own  ship,  Sir  Gervaise  had  sent  a 
message  to  his  friend,  requesting  him  to  take  care  of  the 
fleet.  This  was  the  signal  to  anchor.  The  effect  of  all 
this,  as  seen  from  the  height,  was  exceedingly  striking. 
As  yet,  not  a  single  hull  had  become  visible,  the  fog  re 
maining  packed  upon  the  water,  in  a  way  to  conceal  even 
the  lower  yards  of  the  two-deckers. 

All  above  was  bright,  distinct,  and  so  near,  as  almost  to 
render  it  possible  to  distinguish  persons.  There  every 
thing  was  vivid,  while  a  sort  of  supernatural  mystery 
veiled  all  beneath.  Each  ship  had  an  officer  aloft  to  look 
out  for  signals,  and  no  sooner  had  the  Caesar  opened  her 
three  little  flags,  which  had  long  been  suspended  in  black 
balls,  in  readiness  for  this  service,  than  the  answers  were 
seen  floating  at  the  masthead  of  each  of  the  vessels.  Then 
commenced  a  spectacle  still  more  curious  than  that  which 
those  on  the  cliff  had  so  long  been  regarding  with  interest. 
Ropes  began  to  move,  and  the  sails  were  drawn  up  in  fes 
toons,  apparently  without  the  agency  of  hands.  Cut  off 
from  a  seeming  communication  with  the  ocean,  or  the 
hulls,  the  spars  of  the  different  ships  appeared  to  be  in 
stinct  with  life  ;  each  machine  playing  its  own  part  inde 
pendently  of  the  others,  but  all  having  the  same  object  in 
view.  In  a  very  few  minutes  the  canvas  was  hauled  up, 
and  the  whole  fleet  was  swinging  to  the  anchors.  Pres 
ently  head  after  head  was  thrown  out  of  the  fog,  the  upper 
yards  were  alive  with  men,  and  the  sails  were  handed 


42  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

Next  came  the  squaring  of  the  yards,  though  this  was  im 
perfectly  done,  and  a  good  deal  by  guess-work.  The  men 
came  down,  and  there  lay  a  noble  fleet  at  anchor,  with 
nothing  visible  to  those  on  the  cliffs,  but  their  top-hamper 
and  upper  spars. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  had  been  so  much  struck  and  amused 
with  a  sight  that  to  him  happened  to  be  entirely  novel, 
that  he  did  not  speak  during  the  whole  process  of  anchor 
ing.  Indeed,  many  a  man  might  pass  his  life  at  sea,  and 
never  witness  such  a  scene  ;  but  those  who  have,  know 
that  it  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  striking  spectacles 
connected  with  the  wonders  of  the  great  deep. 

By  this  time  the  sun  had  got  so  high  as  to  begin  to  stir 
the  fog,  and  streams  of  vapor  were  shooting  up  from  the 
beach,  like  smoke  rising  from  coalpits.  The  wind  in 
creased,  too,  and  rolled  the  vapor  before  it,  and  in  less 
than  ten  minutes  the  veil  was  removed  ;  ship  after  ship 
coming  out  in  plain  view,  until  the  entire  fleet  was  seen 
ridrng  in  the  roadstead,  in  its  naked  and  distinct  propor 
tions. 

"  Now,  Bluevvater  is  a  happy  fellow,"  exclaimed  Sir 
Gervaise.  "  He  sees  his  great  enemy,  the  land,  and  knows 
how  to  deal  with  it." 

"  I  thought  the  French  were  the  great  and  natural  ene 
mies  of  every  British  sailor,''  observed  Sir  Wycherly,  simp 
ly,  but  quite  to  the  point. 

"Hum — there's  truth  in  that  too.  But  the  land  is  an 
enemy  to  be  feared,  while  the  Frenchman  is  not — hey, 
Atwood  ? " 

It  was  indeed  a  goodly  sight  to  view  the  fine  fleet  that 
now  lay  anchored  beneath  the  cliffs  of  Wychecombe.  Sir 
Gervaise  Oakes  was  in  that  period  considered  a  success 
ful  naval  commander,  and  was  a  favorite,  both  at  the  ad 
miralty  and  with  the  nation.  His  popularity  extended  to 
the  most  distant  colonies  of  England,  in  nearly  all  of  which 
he  had  served  with  zeal  and  credit.  But  we  are  not  writ 
ing  of  an  age  of  nautical  wronders,  like  that  which  suc 
ceeded  at  the  close  of  the  century.  The  French  and  Dutch, 
and  even  the  Spaniards,  were  then  all  formidable  as  naval 
powers  ;  for  revolutions  and  changes  had  not  destroyed 
their  maritime  corps,  nor  had  the  consequent  naval  as 
cendency  of  England  annihilated  their  navigation  ;  the 
two  great  causes  of  the  subsequent  apparent  invincibility 
of  the  latter  power.  Battles  at  sea,  in  that  day,  were 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  43 

warmly  contested,  and  were  frequently  fruitless  ;  more  es 
pecially  when  fleets  were  brought  in  opposition.  The  sin 
gle  combats  were  usually  more  decisive,  though  the  abso 
lute  success  of  the  British  flag  was  far  from  being  as  much 
a  matter  of  course  as  it  subsequently  became.  In  a  word, 
the  science  of  naval  warfare  had  not  made  those  great 
strides  which  marked  the  career  of  England  in  the  end, 
nor  had  it  retrograded  among  her  enemies,  to  the  point 
which  appears  to  have  rendered  their  defeat  nearly  certain. 
Still  Sir  Gervaise  was  a  successful  officer  ;  having  cap 
tured  several  single  ships  in  bloody  encounters,  and  having 
actually  led  fleets  with  credit,  in  four  or  five  great  battles 
of  the  times  ;  besides  being  second  and  third  in  command, 
on  various  similar  occasions.  His  own  ship  was  certain  to 
be  engaged,  let  what  would  happen  to  the  others.  Equal 
ly  as  captains  and  as  flag  officers,  the  nation  had  become 
familiar  with  the  names  of  Oakes  and  Bluewater  as  men 
ever  to  be  found  sustaining  each  other  in  the  thickest  of 
the  fight. 

It  may  be  well  to  add  here,  that  both  these  favorite  sea 
men  were  men  of  family,  or  at  least  what  was  considered 
men  of  family  among  the  mere  gentry  of  England  ;  Sir 
Gervaise  being  a  baronet  by  inheritance,  while  his  friend 
actually  belonged  to  one  of  those  naval  lines  which  fur 
nishes  admirals  for  generations  ;  his  father  having  wrorn 
a  white  flag  at  the  main  ;  and  his  grandfather  having  been 
actually  ennobled  for  his  services,  dying  vice-admiral  of 
England.  These  fortuitous  circumstances  perhaps  ren 
dered  both  so  much  the  greater  favorites  at  court. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

All  with  you  ;  except  three 
And  duty,  and  our  leader  Israel, 
Who  is  expected  momently.  — Marino  Falero. 

As  his  fleet  was  safely  anchored,  and  that,  too,  in  beau 
tiful  order,  in  spite  of  the  fog,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  showed 
a  disposition  to  pursue  what  are  termed  ulterior  views. 

"This  has  been  a  fine  sight — certainly  a  very  fine  sight ; 
such  as  an  old  seaman  loves  ;  but  there  must  be  an  end  to 
it,"  he  said.  "You  will  excuse  me,  Sir  Wycherly,  but  the 
movements  of  a  fleet  always  have  interest  in  my  eyes,  and 


44  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

it  is  seldom  that  I  get  such  a  bird's-eye  view  of  those  of 
my  own  ;  no  wonder  it  has  made  me  a  somewhat  unre 
flecting  intruder." 

"  Make  no  apologies,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  beg  of  you  ;  for 
none  are  needed,  on  any  account.  Though  this  headland 
does  belong  to  the  Wychecombe  property,  it  is  fairly 
leased  to  the  crown,  and  none  have  a  better  right  to 
occupy  it  than  his  Majesty's  servants.  The  Hall  is  a  little 
more  private,  it  is  true,  but  even  that  has  no  door  that  will 
close  up  on  our  gallant  naval  defenders.  It  is  but  a  short 
walk,  and  nothing  will  make  me  happier  than  to  show  you 
the  way  to  my  poor  dwelling,  and  to  see  you  as  much  at 
home  under  its  roof,  as  you  could  be  in  the  cabin  of  the 
Plantagenet." 

"  If  anything  could  make  me  as  much  at  home  in  a 
house  as  in  a  ship,  it  would  be  so  hearty  a  welcome  ;  and 
I  intend  to  accept  your  hospitality  in  the  very  spirit  in 
which  it  is  offered.  Atwood  and  I  have  landed  to  send  off 
some  important  dispatches  to  the  First  Lord,  and  we  will 
thank  you  for  putting  us  in  the  way  of  doing  it,  in  the 
safest  and  most  expeditious  manner.  Curiosity  and  sur 
prise  have  already  occasioned  the  loss  of  half  an  hour ;  while 
a  soldier,  or  a  sailor,  should  never  lose  half  a  minute." 

"  Is  a  courier  who  knows  the  country  well,  needed,  Sir 
Gervaise?"  the  Lieutenant  demanded,  modestly,  though 
with  an  interest  that  showed  he  was  influenced  only  by 
zeal  for  the  service. 

The  Admiral  looked  at  him  intently,  for  a  moment,  and 
seemed  pleased  with  the  hint  implied  in  the  question. 

"  Can  you  ride  ?"  asked  Sir  Gervaise,  smiling.  "  I  could 
have  brought  half-a-dozen  youngsters  ashore  with  me  ;  but, 
besides  the  doubts  about  getting  a  horse — a  chaise,  I  take 
it,  is  out  of  the  question  here — I  was  afraid  the  lads  might 
disgrace  themselves  on  horseback." 

"  This  must  be  said  in  pleasantry,  Sir  Gervaise,"  returned 
Wychecombe  ;  "  he  would  be  a  strange  Virginian,  at  least, 
who  does  not  know  how  to  ride!" 

"And  a  strange  Englishman,  too,  Bluewater  would  say  ; 
and  yet  I  never  see  the  fellow  straddle  a  horse  that  I  did 
not  wish  it  were  a  studding-sail-boom  run  out  to  leeward  ! 
We  sailors  fancy  we  ride,  Mr.  Wychecombe,  but  it  is  some 
such  fancy  as  a  marine  has  for  the  fore-topmast-crosstrees. 
Can  a  horse  be  had,  to  go  as  far  as  the  nearest  post-office 
that  sends  off  a  daily  mail  ? " 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  45 

"  That  can  it,  Sir  Gervaise,"  put  in  Sir  Wycherly.  "  Here 
is  Dick  mounted  on  as  good  a  hunter  as  is  to  be  found  in 
England  ;  and  I'll  answer  for  my  young  namesake's  will 
ingness  to  put  the  animal's  mettle  to  the  proof.  Our 
little  mail  has  just  left  Wychecombe  for  the  next  twenty- 
four  hours,  but  by  pushing  the  beast,  there  will  be  time  to 
reach  the  road  in  season  for  the  great  London  mail,  which 
passed  the  nearest  market-town  at  noon.  It  is  but  a  gallop 
of  ten  miles  and  back,  and  that  I'll  answer  for  Mr.  Wyche- 
combe's  ability  to  do,  and  to  join  us  at  dinner  by  four." 

Young  Wychecombe  expressing  his  readiness  to  perform 
all  this,  and  even  more  at  need,  the  arrangement  was  soon 
made.  Dick  was  dismounted,  the  Lieutenant  got  his  dis 
patches  and  his  instructions,  took  his  leave,  and  had  gal 
loped  out  of  sight,  in  the  next  five  minutes.  The  Admiral 
then  declared  himself  at  liberty  for  the  day,  accepting  the 
invitation  of  Sir  Wycherly  to  breakfast  and  dine  at  the 
Hall,  in  the  same  spirit  of  frankness  as  that  in  which  it  had 
been  given.  Sir  Wycherly  was  so  spirited  as  to  refuse  the 
aid  of  his  pony,  but  insisted  on  walking  through  the  vil 
lage  and  park  to  his  dwelling,  though  the  distance  was 
more  than  a  mile.  Just  as  they  were  quitting  the  signal- 
station,  the  old  man  took  the  Admiral  aside,  and  in  an 
earnest,  but  respectful  manner,  disburdened  his  mind  to 
the  following  effect. 

"  Sir  Gervaise,"  he  said,  "  I  am  no  sailor  as  you  know, 
and  least  of  all  do  I  bear  his  Majesty's  commission  in  the 
navy,  though  I  am  in  the  county  commission  as  a  justice 
of  the  peace  ;  so,  if  I  make  any  little  mistake,  you  will 
have  the  goodness  to  overlook  it,  for  I  knowT  that  the 
etiquette  of  the  quarter-deck  is  a  very  serious  matter,  and 
is  not  to  be  trifled  with  ;  but  here  is  Dutton,  as  good  a 
fellow  in  his  way  as  lives — his  father  was  a  sort  of  a  gentle 
man,  too,  having  been  the  attorney  of  the  neighborhood, 
and  the  old  man  was  accustomed  to  dine  with  me  forty 
years  ago " 

"  I  believe  I  understand  you,  Sir  Wycherly,"  interrupted 
the  Admiral  ;  "  and  I  thank  you  for  the  attention  you  wish 
to  pay  my  prejudices  ;  but  you  are  the  master  of  Wyche 
combe,  and  I  should  feel  myself  a  troublesome  intruder, 
indeed,  did  you  not  ask  whom  you  please  to  dine  at  your 
own  table." 

"  That's  not  quite  it,  Sir  Gervaise,  though  you  have  not 
gone  far  wide  of  the  mark.  Dutton  is  only  a  master,  you 


46  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

know  ;  and  it  seems  that  a  master  on  board  ship  is  a  very 
different  thing  from  a  master  on  shore  ;  so  Dutton  himself 
has  often  told  me." 

"  Aye,  Dutton  is  right  enough  as  regards  a  king's  ship, 
though  the  two  officers  are  pretty  much  the  same,  when 
other  craft  are  alluded  to.  But,  my  dear  Sir  Wycherly, 
an  Admiral  is  not  disgraced  by  keeping  company  with  a 
boatswain,  if  the  latter  is  an  honest  man.  It  is  true  we 
have  our  customs,  and  what  we  call  our  quarterdeck  and 
forward  officers  ;  which  is  court  end  and  city,  on  board 
ship  ;  but  a  master  belongs  to  the  first,  and  the  master  of 
the  Plantagenet,  Sandy  McYarn,  dines  with  me  once  a 
month,  as  regularly  as  he  enters  a  new  word  at  the  top  of 
his  log-book.  I  beg,  therefore,  you  will  extend  your  hos 
pitality  to  whom  you  please — or — "  the  Admiral  hesitated, 
as  he  cast  a  good-natured  glance  at  the  master,  who  stood 
still  uncovered,  waiting  for  his  superior  to  move  away  ; 
"  or,  perhaps,  Sir  Wycherly,  you  would  permit  me  to  ask  a 
friend  to  make  one  of  our  party." 

"  That's  just  it,  Sir  Gervaise,"  returned  the  kind-hearted 
Baronet  ;  "  and  Dutton  will  be  one  of  the  happiest  fellows 
in  Devonshire.  I  wish  we  could  have  Mrs.  Dutton  and 
Milly,  and  then  the  table  would  look  what  my  poor  brother 
James — St.  James  I  used  to  call  him — what  the  Rev.  James 
Wychecombe  was  accustomed  to  term,  mathematical.  He 
said  a  table  should  have  all  its  sides  and  angles  duly  filled. 
James  was  a  most  agreeable  companion,  Sir  Gervaise,  and, 
in  divinity,  he  would  not  have  turned  his  back  on  one  of 
the  apostles,  I  do  verily  believe  ! " 

The  Admiral  bowed,  and  turning  to  the  master,  he  in 
vited  him  to  be  of  the  party  at  the  hall,  in  the  manner 
which  one  long  accustomed  to  render  his  civilities  agree 
able  by  a  sort  of  professional  off-handed  way,  well  knew 
how  to  assume. 

"  Sir  Wycherly  has  insisted  that  I  shall  consider  his  ta 
ble  as  set  in  my  own  cabin,"  he  continued  ;  "  and  I  know 
of  no  better  manner  of  proving  my  gratitude,  than  by  tak 
ing  him  at  his  word,  and  filling  it  with  guests  that  will  be 
agreeable  to  us  both.  I  believe  there  is  a  Mrs.  Dutton, 
and  a  Miss — a — a— a — 

"Milly,"  put  in  the  Baronet,  eagerly;  "Miss  Mildred 
Dutton — the  daughter  of  our  good  friend  Dutton,  here, 
and  a  young  lady  that  would  do  credit  to  the  gayest  draw 
ing-room  in  London." 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  47 

"You  perceive,  sir,  that  our  kind  host  anticipates  the 
wishes  of  an  old  bachelor,  as  it  might  be  by  instinct,  and 
desires  the  company  of  the  ladies  also.  Miss  Mildred  will, 
at  least,  have  two  young  men  to  do  homage  to  her  beauty 
and  three  old  ones  to  sigh  in  the  distance — hey,  Atwood  ?" 

"  Mildred,  as  Sir  Wycherly  knows,  sir,  has  been  a  little 
disturbed  this  morning,"  returned  Button,  putting  on  his 
best  manner  for  the  occasion  ;  "but,  I  feel  no  doubt,  will 
be  too  grateful  for  this  honor,  not  to  exert  herself  to  make 
a  suitable  return.  As  for  my  wife,  gentlemen " 

u  And  what  is  to  prevent  Mrs.  Button  from  being  one  of 
the  party  ?"  interrupted  Sir  Wycherly,  as  he  observed  the 
husband  to  hesitate  ;  "she  sometimes  favors  me  with  her 
company." 

"  I  rather  think  she  will  to-day,  Sir  Wycherly,  if  Mil 
dred  is  well  enough  to  go  ;  the  good  woman  seldom  lets 
her  daughter  stray  far  from  her  apron-strings.  She  keeps 
her,  as  I  tell  her,  within  the  sweep  of  her  own  hawse,  Sir 
Gervaise." 

"  So  much  the  wiser  she,  Master  Button,"  returned  the 
Admiral,  pointedly.  "The  best  pilot  for  a  young  woman 
is  a  good  mother  ;  and  now  you  have  a  fleet  in  your  road 
stead,  I  need  not  tell  a  seaman  of  your  experience  that 
you  are  on  pilot-ground — hey,  Atwood  ? " 

Here  the  parties  separated,  Button  remaining  uncovered 
until  his  superior  had  turned  the  corner  of  his  little  cot 
tage,  and  was  fairly  out  of  sight.  Then  the  master  en 
tered  his  dwelling  to  prepare  his  wife  and  daughter  for  the 
honors  they  had  in  perspective.  Before  he  executed  this 
duty,  however,  the  unfortunate  man  opened  what  he 
called  a  locker — what  a  housewife  would  term  a  cupboard 
— and  fortified  his  nerves  with  a  strong  draught  of  pure 
Nantes  ;  a  liquor  that  no  hostilities,  custom-house  duties, 
or  national  antipathies,  have  ever  been  able  to  bring  into 
general  disrepute  in  the  British  Islands.  In  the  mean 
time  the  party  of  the  two  Baronets  pursued  its  way  toward 
the  hall. 

The  village,  or  hamlet  of  Wychecombe,  lay  about  half 
way  between  the  station  and  the  residence  of  the  lord  of 
the  manor.  It  was  an  exceedingly  rural  and  retired  col 
lection  of  mean  houses,  possessing  neither  physician, 
apothecary,  nor  attorney  to  give  it  importance.  A  small 
inn,  two  or  three  shops  of  the  humblest  kind,  and  some 
twenty  cottages  of  laborers  and  mechanics  composed  the 


48  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

place,  which,  at  that  early  day,  had  not  even  a  chapel,  or  a 
conventicle  ;  dissent  not  having  made  much  progress  then 
in  England.  The  parisli  church,  one  of  the  old  edifices  of 
the  time  of  the  Henries,  stood  quite  alone,  in  a  field,  more 
than  a  mile  from  the  place  ;  and  the  vicarage,  a  respect 
able  abode,  was  just  on  the  edge  of  the  park,  fully  half  a 
mile  more  distant. 

In  short,  Wychecombe  was  one  of  those  places  which 
was  so  far  on  the  decline,  that  few  or  no  traces  of  any  lit 
tle  importance  it  may  have  once  possessed  were  any  longer 
to  be  discovered  ;  and  it  had  sunk  entirely  into  a  hamlet 
that  owed  its  allowed  claims  to  be  marked  on  the  maps, 
and  to  be  noted  in  the  gazetteers,  altogether  to  its  an 
tiquity,  and  the  name  it  had  given  to  one  of  the  oldest 
knightly  families  in  England. 

No  wonder,  then,  that  the  arrival  of  a  fleet  under  the 
head,  produced  a  great  excitement  in  the  little  village. 
The  anchorage  was  excellent,  so  far  as  the  bottom  was 
concerned,  but  it  could  scarcely  be  called  a  roadstead  in 
any  other  point  of  view,  since  there  was  shelter  against 
no  wind  but  that  which  blew  directly  off  shore,  which 
happened  to  be  a  wind  that  did  not  prevail  in  that  part  of 
the  island.  Occasionally,  a  small  cruiser  would  come-to, 
in  the  offing,  and  a  few  frigates  had  lain  at  single  anchors 
in  the  roads,  for  a  tide  or  so,  in  waiting  for  a  change  of 
weather  ;  but  this  was  the  first  fleet  that  had  been  known 
to  moor  under  the  cliffs  within  the  memory  of  man.  The 
fog  had  prevented  the  honest  villagers  from  ascertaining 
the  unexpected  honor  that  had  been  done  them,  until  the 
reports  of  two  guns  reached  their  ears,  when  the  impor 
tant  intelligence  spread  with  due  rapidity  over  the  entire 
adjacent  country. 

Although  Wychecombe  did  not  lie  in  actual  view  of  the 
sea,  by  the  time  the  party  of  Sir  Wycherly  entered  the 
hamlet,  its  little  street  was  already  crowded  with  visitors 
from  the  fleet ;  every  vessel  having  sent  at  least  one  boat 
ashore,  and  many  of  them  some  three  or  four.  Captain's 
and  gun-room  stewards,  midshipmen's  foragers,  loblolly 
boys,  and  other  similar  harpies,  were  out  in  scores  :  for 
this  wras  a  part  of  the  world  in  which  bumboats  were  un 
known  ;  and  if  the  mountain  would  not  come  to  Mahomet, 
Mahomet  must  fain  go  to  the  mountain.  Half  an  hour 
had  sufficed  to  exhaust  all  the  unsophisticated  simplicity 
of  the  hamlet ;  and  milk,  eggs,  fresh  butter,  soft-tomme, 


THE-  TWO  ADMIRALS.  49 

vegetables,  and  such  fruits  as  were  ripe,  had  already  risen 
quite  one  hundred  per  cent,  in  the  market. 

Sir  Gervaise  had  called  his  force  the  southern  squadron, 
from  the  circumstance  of  its  having  been  cruising  in  the 
Bay  of  Biscay,  for  the  last  six  months.  This  was  a  wild 
winter-station,  the  danger  from  the  elements  greatly  sur 
passing  any  that  could  well  be  anticipated  from  the  enemy. 
The  duty,  notwithstanding,  had  been  well  and  closely  per 
formed  ;  several  West  India  and  one  valuable  East  India 
convoy  had  been  effectually  protected,  as  well  as  a  few 
straggling  frigates  of  the  enemy  picked  up  ;  but  the  ser 
vice  had  been  excessively  laborious  to  all  engaged  in  it, 
and  replete  with  privations.  Most  of  those  who  now  landed 
had  not  trod  terra  firma  for  half  a  year,  and  it  was  not 
wonderful  that  all  the  officers,  whose  duties  did  not  con 
fine  them  to  the  vessels,  gladly  seized  the  occasion  to 
feast  their  senses  with  the  verdure  and  odors  of  their 
native  island.  Quite  a  hundred  guests  of  this  character 
were  also  pouring  into  the  streets  of  Wychecombe,  or 
spreading  themselves  among  the  surrounding  farm-houses  ; 
flirting  with  the  awkward  and  blushing  girls,  and  keeping 
an  eye  at  the  same  time  to  the  main  chance  of  the  mess- 
table. 

"  Our  boys  have  already  found  out  your  village,  Sir 
Wycherly,  in  spite  of  the  fog,"  the  Vice-admiral  remarked, 
good-humoredly,  as  he  cast  his  eyes  around  at  the  move 
ment  of  the  street;  "and  the  locusts  of  Egypt  will  not 
come  nearer  to  breeding  a  famine.  One  would  think 
there  was  a  great  dinner  in  petto,  in  every  cabin  of  the 
fleet,  by  the  number  of  the  captain's  stewards  that  are 
ashore,  hey,  Atwood  ?  I  have  seen  nine  of  the  harpies 
myself,  and  the  other  seven  can't  be  far  off." 

"  Here  is  Galleygo,  Sir  Gervaise,"  returned  the  secretary, 
smiling;  "though  he  can  scarcely  be  called  a  captain's 
steward,  having  the  honor  to  serve  a  Vice-admiral  and  a 
commander-in-chief." 

"Aye,  but  we  feed  the  whole  fleet  at  times,  and  have 
some  excuse  for  being  a  little  exacting  ;  harkee,  Galleygo 
— get  a  horse-cart,  and  push  off  at  once,  four  or  five  miles 
farther  into  the  country  ;  you  might  as  well  expect  to 
find  real  pearls  in  fishes'  eyes,  as  hope  to  pick  up  any 
thing  nice  among  so  many  gun-room  and  cock-pit  boys. 
I  dine  ashore  to-day,  but  Captain  Greenly  is  fond  of  mut 
ton  chops,  you'll  remember." 


50  THE   TIVO  ADMIRALS. 

This  was  said  kindly,  and  in  the  manner  of  a  man  accus 
tomed  to  treat  his  domestics  with  the  familiarity  of  humble 
friends.  Galleygo  was  as  unpromising  a  looking  butler  as 
any  gentleman  ashore  would  be  at  all  likely  to  tolerate  ; 
but  he  had  been  with  his  present  master,  and  in  his  present 
capacity,  ever  since  the  latter  had  commanded  a  sloop  of 
war.  All  his  youth  had  been  passed  as  a  top  man,  and  he 
was  really  a  prime  seaman  ;  but  accident  having  tempo 
rarily  placed  him  in.his  present  station,  Captain  Oakes  was 
so  much  pleased  with  his  attention  to  his  duty,  and  par 
ticularly  with  his  order,  that  he  ever  afterward  retained  him 
in  his  cabin,  notwithstanding  the  strong  desire  the  honest 
fellow  himself  had  felt  to  remain  aloft.  Time  and  famil 
iarity  at  length  reconciled  the  steward  to  his  station,  though 
he  did  not  formally  accept  it,  until  a  clear  agreement  had 
been  made  that  he  was  not  to  be  considered  an  idler  on 
any  occasion  that  called  for  the  services  of  the  best  rnen. 
In  this  manner  David,  for  such  was  his  Christian  name,  had 
become  a  sort  of  nondescript  on  board  of  a  man-of-war  ; 
being  foremost  in  all  the  cuttings  out,  a  captain  of  a  gun, 
and  was  frequently  seen  on  a  yard  in  moments  of  difficulty, 
just  to  keep  his  hand  in,  as  he  expressed  it,  while  he  de 
scended  to  the  duties  of  the  cabin  in  peaceable  times  and 
good  weather.  Nearly  thirty  years  had  he  thus  been  half- 
steward,  half-seaman  when  afloat,  while  on  land  he  was 
rather  a  counsellor  and  minister  of  the  closet  than  a  servant ; 
for  out  of  a  ship  he  was  utterly  useless,  though  he  never 
left  his  master  for  a  week  at  a  time,  ashore  or  afloat.  The 
name  of  Galleygo  was  a  sobriquet  conferred  by  his  brother 
top  men,  but  had  been  so  generally  used,  that  for  the  last 
twenty  years  most  of  his  shipmates  believed  it  to  be  his 
patronymic.  When  this  compound  of  cabin  and  forecastle 
received  the  order  just  related  he  touched  the  lock  of  hair 
on  his  forehead,  a  ceremony  he  always  used  before  he  spoke 
to  Sir  Gervaise,  the  hat  being  removed  at  some  three  or 
four  yards'  distance,  and  made  his  customary  answer  of — 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir  ;  your  honor  has  been  a  young  gentleman 
yourself,  and  knows  what  a  young  gentleman's  stomach  gets 
to  be  a'ter  a  six  months'  fast  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay  ;  and  a 
young  gentleman's  boy's  stomach,  too.  I  always  thinks 
there's  but  a  small  chance  for  us,  sir,  when  I  sees  six  or 
eight  of  them  light  cruisers  in  my  neighborhood.  They're 
som'mat  like  the  sloops  and  cutters  of  a  fleet  which  picks 
up  all  the  pri/e.3." 


THE    TirO   ADMIRALS.  51 

"  Quite  true,  Master  Galleygo  ;  but  if  the  light  cruisers 
get  the  prizes,  you  should  recollect  that  the  Admiral  al 
ways  has  his  share  of  the  prize-money." 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  knows  we  has  our  share,  but  that's  according 
to  law,  and  because  the  commanders  of  the  light  craft  can't 
help  it.  Let  'em  once  get  the  law  on  their  side,  and  not  a 
ha'pence  would  bless  our  pockets !  No,  sir,  what  we  gets 
we  gets  by  the  law  ;  and  as  there  is  no  law  to  fetch  up  young 
gentlemen  or  their  boys,  that  pays  as  they  goes,  we  never 
gets  anything  they  or  their  boys  puts  hands  on." 

"  I  dare  say  you  are  right,  David,  as  you  always  are.  It 
wouldn't  be  a  bad  thing  to  have  an  act  of  Parliament  to 
give  an  Admiral  his  twentieth  in  the  reefers'  foragings. 
The  old  fellows  would  sometimes  get  back  some  of  their 
own  poultry  and  fruit  in  that  way,  hey,  Atwood  ?  " 

The  secretary  smiled  his  assent,  and  then  Sir  Gervaise 
apologized  to  his  host,  repeated  the  order  to  the  steward, 
and  the  party  proceeded. 

"  This  fellow  of  mine,  Sir  Wycherly,  is  no  respecter  of 
persons,  beyond  the  etiquette  of  a  man-of-war,"  the  Admi 
ral  continued,  by  way  of  farther  excuse.  "  I  believe  his 
Majesty  himself  would  be  favored  with  an  essay  on  some 
part  of  the  economy  of  the  cabin,  were  Galleygo  to  get  an 
opportunity  of  speaking  his  mind  to  him.  Nor  is  the  fool 
without  his  expectations  of  some  day  enjoying  this  privi 
lege  ;  for  the  last  time  I  went  to  court,  I  found  honest 
David  rigged  from  stem  to  stern,  in  a  full  suit  of  claret  and 
steel,  under  the  idea  that  he  was  '  to  sail  in  company  with 
me,'  as  he  called  it,  *  with  or  without  signal  ! ' ' 

"  There  was  nothing  surprising  in  that,  Sir  Gervaise," 
observed  the  secretary.  "  Galleygo  has  sailed  in  company 
with  you  so  long,  and  to  so  many  strange  lands ;  has  been 
through  so  many  dangers  at  your  side,  and  has  got  so  com 
pletely  to  consider  himself  as  part  of  the  family,  that  it  was 
the  most  natural  tiling  in  the  world  he  should  expect  to 
go  to  court  with  you." 

"  True  enough.  The  fellow  would  face  the  devil,  at  my 
sidj,  and  I  don't  see  why  he  should  hesitate  to  face  the 
King.  I  sometimes  call  him  Lady  Oakes,  Sir  Wycherly, 
for  he  appears  to  think  he  has  a  right  of  dower,  or  to  some 
other  lawyer-like  claim  on  my  estate  ;  and  as  for  the  fleet, 
he  always  speaks  of  that,  as  if  we  commanded  it  in  com 
mon.  I  wonder  how  Bluewater  tolerates  such  a  black 
guard  ;  for  he  never  scruples  to  allude  to  him  as  under  our 


52  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

orders  !     If  anything  should  befall  me,   Dick   and   David 
would  have  a  civil  war  for  the  succession,  hey,  Atwood  ? " 

"  I  think  military  subordination  would  bring  Galleygo 
to  his  senses,  Sjf  Gervaise,  should  such  an  unfortunate 
accident  occur — which  Heaven  avert  for  many  years  to 
come  !  There  is  Admiral  Bluewater  coming  up  the  street, 
at  this  very  moment,  sir." 

At  this  sudden  announcement,  the  whole  party  turned 
to  look  in  the  direction  intimated  by  the  secretary.  It  was 
by  this  time  at  one  end  of  the  short  street,  and  all  saw  a 
man  just  entering  the  other,  who,  in  his  walk,  air,  attire, 
and  manner,  formed  a  striking  contrast  to  the  active,  merry, 
bustling,  youthful  young  sailors  who  thronged  the  hamlet. 
In  person,  Admiral  Biuewater  was  exceedingly  tall  and 
exceedingly  thin.  Like  most  seamen  who  have  that  phy 
sical  formation,  he  stooped  :  a  circumstance  that  gave  his 
years  greater  apparent  command  over  his  frame  than  they 
possessed  in  reality.  While  this  bend  in  his  figure  de 
prived  it,  in  a  great  measure,  of  the  sturdy  martial  air  that 
his  superior  presented  to  the  observer,  it  lent  to  his  car 
riage  a  quiet  and  dignity  that  it  might  otherwise  have 
wanted.  Certainly,  were  this  officer  attired  like  an  ordi 
nary  civilian,  no  one  would  have  taken  him  for  one  of  Eng 
land's  bravest  and  most  efficient  sea-captains  ;  he  would 
have  passed  rather  as  some  thoughtful,  well-educated,  and 
refined  gentleman,  of  retired  habits,  diffident  of  himself, 
and  a  stranger  to  ambition.  He  wore  an  undress,  Rear- 
admiral's  uniform,  as  a  matter  of  course  ;  but  he  wore  it 
carelessly,  as  if  from  a  sense  of  duty  only  ;  or  conscious 
that  no  arrangement  could  give  him  a  military  air.  Still, 
all  about  his  person  was  faultlessly  neat,  and  perfectly  re 
spectable.  In  a  word,  no  one  but  a  man  accustomed  to  the 
sea,  were  it  not  for  his  uniform,  would  suspect  the  Rear- 
admiral  of  being  a  sailor ;  and  even  the  seaman  himself 
might  be  often  puzzled  to  detect  any  other  signs  of  tlfle 
profession  about  him,  than  were  to  be  found  in  a  face, 
which,  fair,  gentlemanly,  handsome,  and  even  courtly  as  it 
was,  in  expression  and  outline,  wore  the  tint  that  exposure 
invariably  stamps  on  the  mariner's  countenance.  Here, 
however,  his  unseamanlike  character  ceased.  Admiral 
Oakes  had  often  declared  that  "  Dick  Bluewater  knew 
more  about  a  ship  than  any  man  in  England  ;"  and  as  for 
a  fleet,  his  mode  of  manoeuvring  one  had  got  to  be  standard 
in  the  service. 


THE  TWO  AmprrK:4±&.  53 


As  soon  as  Sir  Gervaise  recogmxed  his  friend,  he  ex 
pressed  a  wish  to  wait  for  him,  which  was  courteously 
converted  by  Sir  Wycherly  into  a  proposition  to  return 
and  meet  him.  So  abstracted  was  Admiral  Bluewater, 
however,  that  he  did  not  see  the  party  that  was  approach 
ing  him,  until  he  was  fairly  accosted  by  Sir  Gervaise,  who 
led  the  advance  by  a  few  yards. 

"Good  day  to  you,  Bluewater,"  commenced  the  latter, 
in  his  familiar,  off-hand  way  ;  "  I'm  glad  you  have  torn 
yourself  away  from  your  ship  ;  though  1  must  say  the 
manner  in  which  you  came-to  in  that  fog  was  more  like 
instinct  than  anything  human  !  I  determined  to  tell  you 
"as  much,  the  moment  we  met ;  for  I  don't  think  there  is  a 
ship  half  her  length  out  of  mathematical  order,  notwith 
standing  the  tide  runs,  here,  like  a  race-horse." 

"That  is  owing  to  your  captains,  Sir  Gervaise,"  returned 
the  other,  observing  the  respect  of  manner,  that  the  inferi 
or  never  loses  wTith  his  superior,  on  service,  and  in  a  navy  ; 
let  their  relative  rank  and  intimacy  be  what  they  may  on 
all  other  occasions  ;  "good  captains  make  handy  ships. 
Our  gentlemen  have  nowT  been  together  so  long,  that  they 
understand  each  other's  movements  ;  and  every  vessel  in 
the  fleet  has  her  character  as  wrell  as  her  commander  !  " 

"  Very  true,  Admiral  Bluewater,  and  yet  there  is  not  an 
other  officer  in  his  Majesty's  service  that  could  have 
brought  a  fleet  to  anchor,  in  so  much  order,  and  in  such  a 
fog  ;  and  I  ask  your  leave,  sir,  most  particularly  to  thank 
you  for  the  lesson  you  have  given,  not  only  to  the  captains, 
but  to  the  commander-in-chief.  I  presume  I  may  admire 
that  which  I  cannot  exactly  imitate." 

The  Rear-admiral  merely  smiled  and  touched  his  hat  in 
acknowledgment  of  the  compliment,  but  he  made  no  di 
rect  answer  in  words.  By  this  time  Sir  Wycherly  and  the 
others  had  approached,  and  the  customary  introductions 
took  place.  Sir  Wycherly  now  pressed  his  new  acquaint 
ance  to  join  his  guests,  with  so  much  heartiness,  that  there 
was  no  such  thing  as  refusing. 

"  Since  you  and  Sir  Gervaise  both  insist  on  it  so  earn 
estly,  Sir  Wycherly,"  returned  the  Rear-admiral,  "  I  must 
consent ;  but  as  it  is  contrary  to  our  practice,  when  on  for* 
eign  service — and  I  call  this  roadstead  a  foreign  station, 
as  to  any  thing  \ve  know  about  it — as  it  is  contrary  to  our 
practice"  for  both  flag-officers  to  sleep  out  of  the  fleet,  I 
shall  claim  the  privilege  to  be  allowed  to  go  oifto  my  ship 


54  THE   TWO   ADMIRALS. 

before  midnight.  I  think  the  weather  looks  settled,  Sir 
Gervaise,  and  we  may  trust  that  many  hours,  without  ap 
prehension." 

"  Pooh — -pooh — Bluewater,  you  are  always  fancying  the 
ships  in  a  gale,  and  clawing  off  a  lee-shore.  Put  your  heart 
at  rest,  and  let  us  go  and  take  a  comfortable  dinner  with 
Sir  Wycherly,  who  has  a  London  paper,  I  dare  to  say,  that 
may  let  us  into  some  of  the  secrets  of  state.  Are  there  any 
tidings  from  our  people  in  Flanders  ?" 

"  Things  remain  pretty  much  as  they  have  been,"  re 
turned  Sir  Wycherly,  "since  that  last  terrible  affair,  in 
which  the  Duke  got  the  better  of  the  French  at — I  never 
can  remember  an  outlandish  name  ;  but  it  sounds  some 
thing  like  a  Christian  baptism.  If  my  poor  brother,  St. 
James,  were  living,  now,  he  could  tell  us  all  about  it." 

"  Christian  baptism  !  That's  an  odd  allusion  for  a  field 
of  battle.  The  armies  can't  have  got  to  Jerusalem  ;  hey, 
Atwood  ? " 

"  I  rather  think,  Sir  Gervaise,"  the  secretary  coolly  re 
marked,  "  that  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe  refers  to  the 
battle  that  took  place  last  spring  ;  it  was  fought  at  Font- 
something  ;  and  a  font  certainly  has  something  to  do  with 
Christian  Baptism." 

"That's  it — that's  it,"  cried  Sir  Wycherly,  with  some 
eagerness  ;  "  Fontenoy  was  the  name  of  the  place,  where 
the  Duke  would  have  carried  all  before  him,  and  brought 
Marshal  Saxe  and  all  his  frog-eaters  prisoners  to  England, 
had  our  Dutch  and  German  allies  behaved  better  than  they 
did.  So  it  is  with  poor  old  England,  gentlemen  ;  whatever 
she  gains,  her  allies  always  lose  for  her  ;  the  Germans,  or 
the  colonists,  are  constantly  getting  us  into  trouble  !  " 

Both  Sir  Gervaise  and  his  friend  were  practical  men, 
and  well  knew  that  they  never  fought  the  Dutch  or  the 
French,  without  meeting  with  something  that  was  pretty 
nearly  their  match.  They  had  no  faith  in  general  national 
superiority.  The  courts-martial  that  so  often  succeeded 
general  actions,  had  taught  them  that  there  were  all  de 
grees  of  spirit,  as  well  as  all  degrees  of  a  want  of  spirit  ; 
and  they  knew  too  much  to  be  the  dupes  of  flourishes  of 
the  pen,  or  of  vapid  declamation  at  dinner-speeches,  and 
in  the  House  of  Commons.  Men,  well  led  and  command 
ed,  they  had  ascertained  by  experience,  were  worth  twice 
as  much  as  the  same  men  when  ill  led  and  ill  commanded  ; 
and  they  were  not  to  be  told  that  the  moral  tone  of  an 


THE    TU'O  ADMIRALS. 


55 


army  or  a  fleet,  from  which  all  its  success  was  derived,  de 
pended  more  on  the  conventional  feeling  that  had  been 
got  up  through  moral  agencies,  than  on  birthplace,  origin, 
or  color.  Each  glanced  his  eyes  significantly  at  the  other, 
and  a  sarcastic  smile  passed  over  the  face  of  Sir  Gervaise, 
though  his  friend  maintained  the  customary  appearance 
of  gravity. 

*'  I  believe  Le  Grand  Monarque  and  Marshal  Saxe  give 
a  different  account  of  that  matter,  Sir  Wycherly,"  dryly 
observed  the  former;  "and  it  may  be  well  to  remember  that 
there  are  two  sides  to  every  story.  Whatever  may  be  said 
of  Dettingen,  I  fancy  history  will  set  down  Fontenoy  as 
anything  but  a  feather  in  his  Royal  Highness'  cap." 

"You  surely  do  not  consider  it  possible  for  the  French 
arms  to  overthrow  a  British  army,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  !  " 
exclaimed  the  simple-minded  provincial — for  such  was  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe,  though  he  had  sat  in  Parliament, 
had  four  thousand  a  year,  and  was  one  of  the  oldest  fami 
lies  in  England  ;  "  it  sounds  like  treason  to  admit  the  pos 
sibility  of  such  a  thing." 

"  God  bless  us,  my  dear  sir,  I  am  as  far  from  supposing 
any  such  thing  as  the  Duke  of  Cumberland  himself  ;  who, 
by  the  way,  has  as  much  English  blood  in  his  veins,  as  the 
Baltic  may  have  of  the  water  of  the  Mediterranean — eh, 
Atwood  ?  By  the  way,  Sir  Wycherly,  I  must  ask  a  little 
tenderness  of  you  in  behalf  of  my  friend  the  secretary, 
here,  who  lias  a  national  weakness  in  favor  of  the  Preten 
der,  and  all  of  the  clan  Stuart." 

"  I  hope  not,  I  sincerely  hope  not,  Sir  Gervaise  !"  ex 
claimed  Sir  Wycherly,  with  a  warmth  that  was  not  entire 
ly  free  from  alarm  ;  his  own  loyalty  to  the  new  house  be 
ing  altogether  without  reproach.  "  Mr.  Atwood  has  the 
air  of  a  gentleman  of  too  good  principles  not  to  see  on 
which  side  real  religious  and  political  liberty  lie.  I  am 
sure  you  are  pleased  to  be  jocular,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  the  very 
circumstance  that  he  is  in  your  company  is  a  pledge  of  his 
loyalty." 

"Well,  well,  Sir  Wycherly,  I  would  not  give  you  a 
false  idea  of  my  friend  Atwood,  if  possible  ;  and  so  I  may 
as  well  confess  that,  while  his  Scotch  blood  inclines  him 
to  toryism,  his  English  reason  makes  him  a  whig.  If 
Charles  Stuart  never  gets  the  throne  until  Stephen  At 
wood  helps  him  to  a  seat  on  it,  he  may  take  leave  of  am 
bition  forever." 


56  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

"  I  thought  as  much,  Sir  Gervaise — I  thought  your  sec 
retary  could  never  lead  to  the  doctrine  of  *  passive  obe 
dience  and  non-resistance.'  That's  a  principle  which  would 
hardly  suit  sailors,  Admiral  Bluewater." 

Admiral  Bluewater's  fine,  full,  blue  eye,  lighted  with  an 
expression  approaching  irony  ;  but  he  made  no  other  an 
swer  than  a  slight  inclination  of  the  head.  In  point  of 
fact,  he  was  a  Jacobite  ;  though  no  one  was  acquainted 
with  the  circumstance  but  his  immediate  commanding  offi 
cer. 

As  a  seaman  he  was  called  on  only  to  serve  his  country; 
and  as  often  happens  to  military  men,  lie  was  willing  to 
do  this  under  any  superior  whom  circumstance  might 
place  over  his  head,  let  his  private  sentiments  be  what  they 
might.  During  the  civil  war  of  1715,  he  was  too  young  in 
years,  and  too  low  in  rank,  to  render  his  opinions  of  much 
importance  ;  and,  kept  on  foreign  stations,  his  services 
could  only  affect  the  general  interests  of  the  nation,  with 
out  producing  any  influence  on  the  contest  at  home.  Since 
that  period,  nothing  had  occurred  to  require  one,  whose 
duty  kept  him  on  the  ocean,  to  come  to  a  very  positive 
decision  between  the  two  masters  that  claimed  his  alle 
giance.  Sir  Gervaise  had  always  been  able  to  persuade 
him  that  he  was  sustaining  the  honor  and  interests  of  his 
country,  and  that  ought  to  be  sufficient  to  a  patriot,  let 
who  would  rule.  Notwithstanding  this  wide  difference  in 
political  feeling  between  the  two  Admirals — Sir  Gervaise 
being  as  decided  a  whig  as  his  friend  was  a  tory — their 
personal  harmony  had  been  without  a  shade.  As  to  con 
fidence,  the  superior  knew  the  inferior  so  well,  that  he  be 
lieved  the  surest  way  to  prevent  his  taking  sides  openly 
with  the  Jacobites,  or  of  doing  them  secret  service,  was  to 
put  it  in  his  power  to  commit  a  great  breach  of  trust.  So 
long  as  faith  was  put  in  his  integrity,  Sir  Gervaise  felt  cer 
tain  his  friend  Bluewater  might  be  relied  on  ;  and  he  also 
knew  that,  should  the  moment  ever  come  when  the  other 
really  intended  to  abandon  the  service  of  the  house  of 
Hanover,  he  would  frankly  throw  up  his  employments, 
and  join  the  hostile  standard,  without  profiting,  in  any 
manner,  by  the  trusts  he  had  previously  enjoyed.  It  is  also 
necessary  that  the  reader  should  understand  that  Admiral 
Bluewater  had  never  communicated  his  political  opinions 
to  any  person  but  his  friend  ;  the  Pretender  and  his  coun 
sellors  being  as  ignorant  of  them  as  George  II.  and  his 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  57 

ministers.  The  only  practical  effect,  therefore,  that  they 
had  ever  produced  was  to  induce  him  to  decline  separate 
commands,  several  of  which  had  been  offered  to  him  ;  one, 
quite  equal  to  that  enjoyed  by  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  himself. 

"  No,"  the  latter  answered  to  Sir  Wycherlv's  remark  ; 
though  the  grave  thoughtful  expression  of  his  face  showed 
how  little  his  feelings  chimed  in  at  the  moment  with  the 
ironical  language  of  his  tongue.  "  No,  Sir  Wycherly,  a 
man-of-war's  man,  in  particular,  has  not  the  slightest  idea 
of  '  passive  obedience  and  non-resistance  ; '  that  is  a  doc 
trine  which  is  intelligible  only  to  papists  and  tories.  Blue- 
water  is  in  a  brown  study  ;  thinking  no  doubt  of  the  man 
ner  in  which  he  intends  to  lead  down  on  Monsieur  de 
Gravelin,  should  we  ever  have  the  luck  to  meet  that 
gentleman  again  ;  so  we  will,  if  it's  agreeable  to  all  parties, 
change  the  subject." 

"  With  all  my  heart,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  the  Baronet, 
cordially  ;  "  and,  after  all,  there  is  little  use  in  discussing  the 
affair  of  the  Pretender  any  longer,  for  he  appears  to  be 
quite  out  of  men's  minds,  since  that  last  failure  of  King 
Louis  XV." 

"Yes,  Norris  rather  crushed  the  young  viper,  in  its  shell, 
and  we  may  consider  the  thing  at  an  end." 

"  So  my  late  brother,  Baron  Wychecombe,  always  treated 
it,  Sir  Gervaise.  He  once  assured  me  that  the  twelve 
judges  were  clearly  against  the  claim,  and  that  the  Stuarts 
had  nothing  to  expect  from  them" 

"  Did  he  tell  you,  sir,  on  what  ground  these  learned 
gentlemen  had  come  to  this  decision  ? "  quietly  asked 
Admiral  Bkrewater. 

"  He  did,  indeed  ;  for  he  knew  my  strong  desire  to  make 
out  a  good  case  against  the  tories  so  well,  that  he  had  laid 
all  the  law  before  me.  I  am  a  bad  hand,  however,  to  re 
peat  even  what  I  hear  ;  though  my  poor  brother,  the  late 
Rev.  James  Wychecombe — St.  James  as  I  used  to  call  him 
— could  go  over  a  discourse  half  an  hour  long,  and  not 
miss  a  word.  Thomas  and  James  appear  to  have  run  away 
with  the  memories  of  the  rest  of  the  family.  Nevertheless, 
I  recollect  it  all  depended  on  an  act  of  Parliament,  which 
is  supreme  ;  and  the  house  of  Hanover  reigning  by  an  act 
of  Parliament,  no  court  could  set  aside  the  claim." 

"Very  clearly  explained,  sir,"  continued  Bluewater ; 
"  and  you  will  permit  me  to  say  that  there  was  no  necessity 
for  an  apology  on  account  of  the  memory.  Your  brother, 


58  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

however,  might  not  have  exactly  explained  what  an  act  of 
Parliament  is.  Kings,  Lords,  and  Commons  are  all  nec 
essary  to  an  act  of  Parliament." 

"  Certainly  ;  we  all  know  that,  my  dear  Admiral  ;  we 
poor  fellows  ashore  here,  as  well  as  you  mariners  at  sea. 
The  Hanoverian  succession  had  all  three  to  authorize  it." 

"  Had  it  a  king?" 

"  A  king  !  Out  of  dispute — or  what  we  bachelors  ought 
to  consider  as  much  better,  it  had  a  queen.  Queen  Anne 
approved  of  the  act,  and  that  made  it  an  act  of  Parliament. 
I  assure  you,  I  learned  a  good  deal  of  law  in  the  Baron's 
visits  to  Wychecombe  ;  and  in  the  pleasant  hours  we  used 
to  chat  together  in  his  chambers  !" 

"And  who  signed  the  act  of  Parliament  that  made  Anne 
a  queen  ?  or  did  she  ascend  the  throne  by  regular  succes 
sion  ?  Both  Mary  and  Anne  were  sovereigns  by  act  of 
Parliament,  and  we  must  look  back  until  we  get  the  ap 
proval  of  a  prince  who  took  the  crown  by  legal  descent." 

"  Come,  come,  Bluewater  "  put  in  Sir  Gervaise,  gravely  ; 
"we  may  persuade  Sir  Wycherly,  in  this  manner,  that  he 
has  a  couple  of  furious  Jacobites  in  company.  The 
Stuarts  were  dethroned  by  a  revolution,  which  is  a  law  of 
nature,  and  enacted  by  God,  and  which  of  course  over 
shadows  all  other  laws  when  it  gets  into  the  ascendant,  as  it 
clearly  has  done  in  this  case.  I  take  it,  Sir  Wycherley, 
these  are  your  park-gates,  and  that  yonder  is  the  hall." 

This  remark  changed  the  discourse,  and  the  whole  party 
proceeded  toward  the  house,  discussing  the  beauty  of  its 
position,  its  history,  and  its  advantages,  until  they  reached 
its  door. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Monarch  and  ministers  are  awful  names; 

Whoever  wear  them,  challenge  our  devoir. — YOUNG. 

OUR  plan  does  not  require  an  elaborate  description  of 
the  residence  of  Sir  Wycherly.  The  house  had  been  neither 
priory,  abbey,  nor  castle  ;  but  it  was  erected  as  a  dwelling 
for  himself  and  his  posterity,  by  a  Sir  Michael  Wychecombe, 
two  or  three  centuries  before,  and  had  been  kept  in  good 
serviceable  condition  ever  since.  It  had  the  usual  long, 
narrow  windows,  a  suitable  hall,  wainscoted  rooms,  battle- 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  59 

merited  walls,  and  turreted  angles.  It  was  neither  large, 
nor  small  ;  handsome,  nor  ugly  ;  grand,  nor  mean  ;  but  it 
was  quaint,  respectable  in  appearance,  and  comfortable  as 
an  abode. 

The  Admirals  were  put  each  in  possession  of  bedcham 
bers  and  dressing-rooms,  as  soon  as  they  arrived ;  and 
Atwood  was  berthed  not  far  from  his  commanding-officer, 
in  readiness  for  service,  if  required.  Sir  Wycherly  was 
naturally  hospitable  ;  but  his  retired  situation  had  given 
him  a  zest  for  company,  that  greatly  increased  the  inborn 
disposition.  Sir  Gervaise,  it  was  understood,  was  to  pass 
the  night  with  him,  and  he  entertained  strong  hopes  of  in 
cluding  his  friend  in  the  same  arrangement.  Beds  were 
ordered,  too,  for  Button,  his  wife,  and  daughter  ;  and  his 
namesake,  the  Lieutenant,  was  expected  also  to  sleep  un 
der  his  roof  that  night. 

The  day  passed  in  the  customary  manner  ;  the  party 
having  breakfasted,  and  then  separated  to  attend  to  their 
several  occupations,  agreeably  to  the  usages  of  all  country 
houses,  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  and,  we  believe,  in  -all 
time.  Sir  Gervaise,  who  had  sent  a  messenger  off  to  the 
Plantagenet  for  certain  papers,  spent  the  morning  in  writ 
ing;  Admiral  Bluewater  walked  in  the  park,  by  himself  ; 
Atwood  was  occupied  with  his  superior ;  Sir  Wycherly 
rode  among  his  laborers  ;  and  Tom  Wychecornbe  took  a 
rod,  and  pretended  to  go  forth  to  fish,  though  he  actually 
held  his  way  back  to  the  headland,  lingering  in  and  around 
the  cottage  until  it  was  time  to  return  home.  At  the 
proper  hour,  Sir  Wycherly  sent  his  chariot  for  the  ladies  ; 
and  a  few  minutes  before  the  appointed  moment,  the  party 
began  to  assemble  in  the  drawing-room. 

When  Sir  Wycherly  appeared,  he  found  the  Buttons  al 
ready  in  possession,  with  Tom  doing  the  honors  of  the 
house.  Of  the  sailing-master  and  his  daughter,  it  is  un 
necessary  to  say  more  than  that  the  former  was  in  his  best 
uniform — an  exceedingly  plain  one,  as  was  then  the  case 
with  the  whole  naval  wardrobe — and  that  the  last  had  re 
covered  from  her  illness,  as, was  evident  by  the  bloom  that 
the  sensitive  blushes  constantly  cast  athwart  her  lovely 
face.  Her  attire  was  exactly  what  it  ought  to  have  been  : 
neat,  simple,  and  becoming.  In  honor  of  the  host,  she 
Avore  her  best ;  but  this  was  what  became  her  station, 
though  a  little  jewelry  that  rather  surpassed  what  might 
have  been  expected  in  a  girl  of  her  rank  of  life,  threw 


60  THE   TWO   ADMIRALS. 

around  her  person  an  air  of  modest  elegance.  Mrs.  Button 
was  a  plain  matronly  woman — the  daughter  of  a  land-stew 
ard  of  a  nobleman  in  the  same  county — with  an  air  of  great 
mental  suffering,  from  griefs  she  had  never  yet  exposed  to 
the  heartless  sympathy  of  the  world. 

The  Baronet  was  so  much  in  the  habit  of  seeing  his  hum 
ble  neighbors,  that  an  intimacy  had  grown  up  between 
them.  Sir  Wycherly,  who  was  anything  but  an  acute  ob 
server,  felt  an  interest  in  the  melancholy-looking  and  al 
most  heart-broken  mother,  without  knowing  why  ;  or 
certainly  without  suspecting  the  real  character  of  her 
habitual  sadness  ;  while  Mildred's  youth  and  beauty  had 
not  failed  of  producing  the  customary  effect  of  making  a 
friend  of  the  old  bachelor.  He  shook  hands  all  around, 
therefore,  with  great  cordiality ;  expressing  his  joy  at 
meeting  Mrs.  Dutton,  and  congratulating  the  daughter  on 
her  complete  recovery. 

"  I  see  Tom  has  been  attentive  to  his  duty,"  he  added, 
"while  I've  been  detained  by  a  silly  fellow  about  a  com 
plaint  against  a  poacher.  My  namesake,  young  Wycherly, 
has  not  got  back  yet,  though  it  is  quite  two  hours  past  his 
time  ;  and  Mr.  Atwood  tells  me  the  Admiral  is  a  little  un 
easy  about  his  dispatches.  I  tell  him  Mr.  Wycherly  Wyche- 
combe,  though  I  have  not  the  honor  of  ranking  him  among 
my  relatives,  and  he  is  only  a  Virginian  by  birth,  is  a  young 
man  to  be  relied  on  ;  and  that  the  dispatches  are  safe,  let 
what  may  detain  the  courier." 

"  And  why  should  not  a  Virginian  be  everyway  as  trust 
worthy  and  prompt  as  an  Englishman,  Sir  Wycherly?" 
asked  Mrs.  Dutton.  "  He  is  an  Englishman,  merely  sep 
arated  from  us  by  the  water." 

This  was  said  mildly,  or  in  the  manner  of  one  accustomed 
to  speak  under  a  rebuked  feeling  ;  but  it  was  said  earnest 
ly,  and  perhaps  a  little  reproachfully,  while  the  speaker's 
eye  glanced  with  natural  interest  toward  the  beautiful  face 
of  her  daughter. 

"  Why  not,  sure  enough,  my  dear  Mrs.  Dutton  !  "  echo 
the  Baronet.  "  They  are  Englishmen,  like  ourselves,  OK?/, 
born  out  of  the  realm,  as  it  might  be,  and  no  doubt  a  lit  tie 
different  on  that  account.  They  are  fellow-subjects,  M'rs. 
Dutton,  and  that  is  a  great  deal.  Then  they  are  miracle* 
of  loyalty,  there  being  scarcely  a  Jacobite,  as  they  tell  me, 
in  all  the  colonies." 

"  Mr.    Wycherly   Wychecombe   is   a    very   respectable 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  61 

young  gentleman,"  said  Dutton  ;  "and  I  hear  he  is  a 
prime  seaman  for  his  years.  He  has  not  the  honor  of  be 
ing  related  to  this  distinguished  family,  like  Mr.  Thomas, 
here,  it  is  true  ;  but  he  is  likely  to  make  a  name  for  him 
self.  Should  he  get  a  ship,  and  do  as  handsome  things  in 
her,  as  he  has  done  already,  his  Majesty  would  probably 
knight  him  ;  and  then  we  should  have  two  Sir  Wycherly 
Wychecombes  ! " 

"I  hope  not — I  hope  not  !  "  exclaimed  the  Baronet  ;  "I 
think  there  must  be  a  law  against  that.  As  it  is,  I  shall 
be  obliged  to  put  Bart,  after  my  name,  as  my  worthy  grand 
father  used  to  do,  in  order  to  prevent  confusion  ;  but  Eng 
land  can't  bear  two  Sir  Wycherlys,  any  more  than  the  world 
can  bear  two  suns.  Is  not  that  your  opinion,  Miss  Mildred?" 

The  Baronet  had  laughed  at  his  own  allusion,  showing 
that  he  spoke  half  jocularly  ;  but,  as  his  question  was  put 
in  too  direct  a  manner  to  escape  general  attention,  the 
confused  girl  was  obliged  to  answer. 

"  I  dare  say  Mr.  Wychecombe  will  never  reach  a  rank 
high  enough  to  cause  any  such  difficulty,"  she  said  ;  and 
it  was  said  in  all  sincerity  ;  for,  unconsciously,  perhaps, 
she  secretly  hoped  that  no  difference  so  wide  might  ever 
be  created  between  the  youth  and  herself.  "  If  he  should, 
I  suppose  his  rights  would  be  as  good  as  another's,  and 
he  must  keep  his  name." 

"In  such  a  case,  which  is  improbable  enough,  as  Miss 
Mildred  has  so  well  observed,"  put  in  Tom  Wychecombe, 
"  we  should  have  to  submit  to  the  knighthood,  for  that  comes 
from  the  king,  who  may  knight  a  chimney-sweep,  if  he 
see  fit  ;  but  a  question  might  be  raised  as  to  the  name.  It 
is  bad  enough  as  it  is  ;  but  if  it  really  got  to  be  two  Sir 
Wycherlys,  I  think  my  dear  uncle  would  be  wrong  to  sub 
mit  to  such  an  invasion  of  what  one  might  call  his  individ 
uality,  without  making  some  inquiry  as  to  the  right  of  the 
gentleman  to  one  or  both  his  names.  The  result  might 
show  that  the  king  had  made  a  Sir  Something  Nobody." 

The  sneer  and  spite  with  which  this  was  uttered  were 
too  marked  to  escape  notice  ;  and  both  Dutton  and  his 
wife  felt  it  would  be  unpleasant  to  mingle  further  in  the 
discourse.  Still,  the  last,  submissive,  rebuked,  and  heart 
broken  as  she  was,  felt  a  glow  on  her  pale  cheek,  as  she 
saw  the  color  mount  in  the  face  of  Mildred,  and  she  de 
tected  the  strong  impulses  that  urged  the  generous  girl 
herself  to  answer. 


62  THE    TIVO  ADMIRALS. 

"We  have  now  known  Mr.  Wychecombe  several  months," 
observed  Mildred,  fastening  her  full  blue  eyes  calmly  on 
Tom's  sinister-looking  face  ;  "and  we  have  never  known 
anything  to  cause  us  to  think  he  would  bear  a  name — or 
names — that  he  does  not  at  least  think  he  has  a  right 
to." 

This  was  said  gently,  but  so  distinctly  that  every  word 
entered  fairly  into  Tom  Wychecombe's  soul ;  who  threw  a 
quick,  suspicious  glance  at  the  lovely  speaker,  as  if  to  as 
certain  how  far  she  intended  any  allusion  to  himself.  Meet 
ing  with  no  other  expression  than  that  of  generous  interest, 
he  recovered  his  self-command,  and  made  his  reply  with 
sufficient  coolness. 

"  Upon  my  word,  Mrs.  Dutton,"  he  cried,  laughing  ;  "  we 
young  men  will  all  of  us  have  to  get  over  the  cliff  and  hang 
dangling  at  the  end  of  a  rope,  in  order  to  awaken  an  in 
terest  in  Miss  Mildred,  to  defend  us  when  our  backs  are 
turned.  So  eloquent — and  most  especially  so  lovely,  so 
charming  an  advocate,  is  almost  certain  of  success  ;  and 
my  uncle  and  myself  must  admit  the  absent  gentleman's 
right  to  our  name  ;  though,  Heaven  be  praised,  he  has  not 
yet  got  either  the  title  or  the  estate." 

"I  hope  I  have  said  nothing,  Sir  Wycherly,  to  displease 
you"  returned  Mildred,  with  emphasis  ;  though  her  face 
was  a  thousand  times  handsomer  than  ever,  with  the 
blushes  that  suffused  it.  "  Nothing  would  pain  me  more 
than  to  suppose  I  had  done  so  improper  a  thing.  I  merely 
meant  that  we  cannot  believe  Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe 
would  willingly  take  a  name  he  had  no  right  to." 

"My  little  dear,"  said  the  Baronet,  taking  the  hand  of 
the  distressed  girl,  and  kissing  her  cheek  as  he  had  often 
done  before,  with  fatherly  tenderness  ;  "  it  is  not  an  easy 
matter  tor  you  to  offend  me  ;  and  I'm  sure  the  young  fellow 
is  quite  welcome  to  both  my  names,  if  you  wish  him  to 
have  'em." 

"And  I  merely  meant,  Miss  Mildred,"  resumed  Tom, 
who  feared  he  might  have  gone  too  far,  "  that  the  young 
gentleman — quite  without  any  fault  of  his  own — is  proba 
bly  ignorant  how  he  came  by  two  names  that  have  so  long 
pertained  to  the  head  of  an  ancient  and  honorable  family. 
There  is  many  a  young  man  born,  who  is  worthy  of  being 
an  earl,  but  whom  the  law  considers" — here  Tom  paused 
to  choose  terms  suitable  for  his  auditor,  when  the  Baronet 
added, 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  63 

"A  filius  nullius — that's  the  phrase,  Tom — I  had  it  from 
your  own  father's  mouth." 

Tom  Wychecombe  started,  and  looked  furtively  around 
him,  as  if  to  ascertain  who  suspected  the  truth.  Then  he 
continued,  anxious  to  regain  the  ground  he  feared  he  had 
lost  in  Mildred's  favor  : 

"  Filius  nullius  means,  Miss  Mildred,  exactly  what  I  wish  to 
express  ;  a  family  without  any  legal  origin.  They  tell  me, 
however,  that  in  the  colonies  nothing  is  more  common 
than  for  people  to  take  the  names  of  the  great  families  at 
home,  and  after  awhile  they  fancy  themselves  related." 

"  I  never  heard  Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe  say  a  word 
to  lead  us  to  suppose  that  lie  was,  in  any  manner,  connected 
with  this  family,  sir,"  returned  Mildred,  calmly,  but  quite 
distinctly. 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  him  say  he  was  not,  Miss  Mildred  ?" 

"  I  cannot  say  I  ever  did,  Mr.  Wychecombe.  It  is  a 
subject  that  has  seldom  been  introduced  in  my  hearing." 

"  But  it  has  often  been  introduced  in  his !  I  declare, 
Sir  Wycherly,  it  has  struck  me  as  singular,  that  while  you 
and  I  have  so  very  frequently  stated,  in  the  presence  of 
this  gentlemen,  that  our  families  are  in  no  way  connected, 
he  has  never,  in  any  manner,  not  even  by  a  nod  or  a  look 
of  approbation,  assented  to  what  he  must  certainly  know 
to  be  the  case.  But  I  suppose,  like  a  true  colonist,  he  was 
unwilling  to  give  up  his  hold  on  the  old  stock." 

Here  the  entrance  of  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  changed  the 
discourse.  The  Vice-admiral  joined  the  party  in  good 
spirits,  as  is  apt  to  be  the  case  with  men  who  have  been 
much  occupied  with  affairs  of  moment,  and  who  meet 
relaxation,  with  a  consciousness  of  having  done  their 
duty. 

"  If  one  could  take  with  him  to  sea  the  comforts  of  such 
a  house  as  this,  Sir  Wycherly,  and  such  handsome  faces 
as  your  own,  young  lady,"  cried  Sir  Gervaise,  cheerfully, 
after  he  had  made  his  salutations,  "  there  would  be  an  end 
of  our  exclusiveness,  for  every  petit  maitre  of  Paris  and 
London  would  turn  sailor,  as  a  matter  of  course.  Six 
months  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay  gives  an  old  fellowT  like  my 
self  a  keen  relish  for  these  enjoyments,  as  hunger  makes 
any  meat  palatable  ;  though  I  am  far,  very  far  indeed,  from 
putting  this  house  or  this  company  on  a  level  with  an  in 
different  feast,  even  for  an  epicure." 

"Such  as  it  is,  Sir   Gervaise,   the  first  is   quite   at  your 


64  THE    TirO   ADMIRALS. 

service,  in  all  things,"  rejoined  the  host;  "and  the  last 
will  do  all  in  its  power  to  make  itself  agreeable." 

"Ah — here  comes  Bluewater  to  echo  all  I  have  said  and 
feel.  I  am  telling  Sir  Wycherly  and  the  ladies,  of  the  sat 
isfaction  we  grampuses  experience  when  we  get  berthed 
under  such  a  roof  as  this,  with  woman's  sweet  face  to  throw 
a  gleam  of  happiness  around  her." 

Admiral  Bluewater  had  already  saluted  the  mother,  but 
when  his  eye  fell  on  the  face  and  person  of  Mildred,  it  was 
riveted,  for  an  instant,  with  an  earnestness  and  intentness 
of  surprise  and  admiration  that  all  noted,  though  no  one 
saw  fit  to  comment  on  it. 

"  Sir  Gervaise  is  so  established  an  admirer  of  the  sex," 
said  the  Rear-admiral,  recovering  himself,  after  a  pause, 
"that  I  am  never  astonished  at  any  of  his  raptures.  Salt 
water  has  the  usual  effect  on  him,  however  ;  for  I  have 
now  known  him  longer  than  he  might  wish  to  be  reminded 
of,  and  yet  the  only  mistress  who  can  keep  him  true  is  his 
ship." 

"  And  to  that  I  believe  I  may  be  said  to  be  constant.  I 
don't  know  how  it  is  with  you,  Sir  Wycherly,  but  every 
thing  I  am  accustomed  to  I  like.  Now,  here  I  have  sailed 
with  both  these  gentlemen  until  I  should  as  soon  think  of 
going  to  sea  without  a  binnacle,  as  to  go  to  sea  without 
'em  both — hey,  Atwood  ?  Then,  as  to  the  ship,  my  flag 
has  been  flying  in  the  Plantagenet  these  ten  years,  and  I 
can't  bear  to  give  the  old  craft  up,  though  Bluewater,  here, 
would  have  turned  her  over  to  an  inferior  after  three  years 
service.  I  tell  all  the  young  men  they  don't  stay  long 
enough  in  any  one  vessel  to  find  out  her  good  qualities.  I 
never  was  in  a  slow  ship  yet." 

"  For  the  simple  reason  that  you  never  get  into  a  fast 
one,  that  you  do  not  wear  her  fairly  out,  before  you  give 
her  up.  The  Plantagenet,  Sir  Wycherly,  is  the  fastest  t\vo- 
decker  in  his  Majesty's  service,  and  the  Vice-admiral 
knows  it  too  well  to  let  any  of  us  get  foot  in  her,  while 
her  timbers  will  hang  together." 

"  Let  it  be  so,  if  you  will  ;  it  only  shows,  Sir  Wycherly, 
that  I  do  not  choose  my  friends  for  their  bad  qualities.  But 
allow  me  to  ask,  young  lady,  if  you  happen  to  know  a 
certain  Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe — a  namesake,  but  no 
relative,  I  understand,  of  our  respectable  host — and  one 
who  holds  a  commission  in  his  Majesty's  service  ?" 

"  Certainly,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  Mildred,  dropping 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  65 

her  eyes  to  the  floor,  and  trembling,  though  she  scarce 
knew  why  ;  "Mr.  Wychecombe  has  been  about  here,  now, 
for  some  months,  and  \ve  all  know  something  about  him." 

"  Then  perhaps  you  can  tell  me  whether  he  is  generally 
a  loiterer  on  duty.  I  do  not  inquire  whether  he  is  a  lag 
gard  in  his  duty  to  you,  but  whether,  mounted  on  a  good 
hunter,  he  could  get  over  twenty  miles  in  eight  or  ten 
hours,  for  instance  ?" 

"  I  think  Sir  Wycherly  would  tell  you  that  he  could, 
sir." 

"  He  may  be  a  Wychecombe,  Sir  Wycherly,  but  he  is  no 
Plantagenet,  in  the  way  of  sailing.  Surely  the  young  man 
ought  to  have  returned  some  hours  since  !" 

"  It  is  quite  surprising  to  me  that  he  is  not  back  before 
this,"  returned  the  kind-hearted  Baronet.  "  He  is  active, 
and  understands  himself,  and  there  is  not  a  better  horse 
man  in  the  county — is  there,  Miss  Mildred  ?" 

Mildred  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  reply  to  this  direct 
appeal  ;  but  in  spite  of  the  manner  in  which  she  had  been 
endeavoring  to  school  her  feelings,  since  the  accident  on  the 
cliff,  she  could  not  prevent  the  deadly  paleness  that  dread 
of  some  accident  had  produced,  or  the  rush  of  color  to  her 
cheeks  that  followed  from  the  unexpected  question  of  Sir 
Wycherly.  Turning  to  conceal  her  confusion,  she  met  the 
eye  of  Tom  Wychecombe  riveted  on  her  face,  with  an  ex 
pression  so  sinister,  that  it  caused  her  to  tremble.  Fortu 
nately,  at  this  moment,  Sir  Gervaise  turned  away,  and 
drawing  near  his  friend,  on  the  other  side  of  the  large 
apartment,  he  said,  in  an  undertone  : 

"Luckily,  Atwood  has  brought  ashore  a  duplicate  of 
my  dispatches,  Bluewater,  and  if  this  dilatory  gentleman 
does  not  return  by  the  time  we  have  dined,  I  will  send  off 
a  second  courier.  The  intelligence  is  too  important  to  be 
trifled  with  ;  and  after  having  brought  the  fleet  north,  to 
be  in  readiness  to  serve  the  state  in  this  emergency,  it 
would  be  rare  folly  to  leave  the  ministers  in  ignorance  of 
the  reasons  why  I  have  done  it." 

"  Nevertheless  they  would  be  almost  as  well  informed  as 
I  am  myself,"  returned  the  Rear-admiral,  with  a  little 
point,  but  quite  without  any  bitterness  of  manner.  "The 
only  advantage  I  have  over  them  is  that  I  do  know  where 
the  fleet  is,  which  is  more  than  the  First  Lord  can  boast 
of." 

"  True — I   had  forgot,  my  friend —  but  you   must  feel 


66  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

there  is  a  subject  on  which  I  had  better  not  consult  you. 
I  have  received  some  important  intelligence,  that  my  duty, 
as  a  commander-in-chief,  renders  it  necessary  I  should — 
keep  to  myself." 

Sir  Gervaise  laughed  as  he  concluded,  though  he  seemed 
vexed  and  embarrassed.  Admiral  Bluewater  betrayed 
neither  chagrin  nor  disappointment  ;  but  strong,  nearly 
ungovernable  curiosity,  a  feeling  from  which  he  was  sin 
gularly  exempt  in  general,  glowed  in  his  eyes  and  lighted 
his  whole  countenance.  Still,  habitual  submission  to  his 
superior,  and  the  self-command  of  discipline,  enabled  him 
to  wait  for  anything  more  that  his  friend  might  commu 
nicate.  At  this  moment,  the  door  opened,  and  Wycherly 
entered  the  room,  in  the  state  in  which  he  had  just  dis 
mounted.  It  was  necessary  to  throw  but  a  single  glance 
at  his  hurried  manner,  and  general  appearance,  to  know 
that  he  had  something  of  importance  to  communicate,  and 
Sir  Gervaise  made  a  sign  for  him  not  to  speak. 

"This  is  public  service,  Sir  Wycherly,"  said  the  Vice- 
admiral,  "  arid  I  hope  you  will  excuse  us  for  a  few  minutes. 
I  beg  this  good  company  will  be  seated  at  table,  as  soon  as 
dinner  is  served,  and  that  you  will  treat  us  as  old  friends — 
as  I  should  treat  you,  if  we  were  on  board  the  Plantagenet. 
Admiral  Bluewater,  will  you  be  of  our  conference  ?" 

Nothing  more  was  said  until  the  two  Admirals  and  the 
young  Lieutenant  were  in  the  dressing-room  of  Sir  Ger 
vaise  Oakes.  Then  the  latter  turned,  and  addressed  Wy 
cherly  with  the  manner  of  a  superior. 

"  I  should  have  met  you  with  reproof  for  this  delay, 
young  gentleman,"  he  commenced,  "did  I  not  suspect, 
from  your  appearance,  that  something  of  moment  has  oc 
curred  to  produce  it.  Had  the  mail  passed  the  market- 
town  before  you  reached  it,  sir  ?" 

"  It  had  not,  Admiral  Oakes  ;  and  I  have  the  satisfaction 
of  knowing  that  your  dispatches  are  now  several  hours  on 
their  way  to  London.  I  reached  the  office  just  in  season 
to  see  them  mailed." 

"Humph  !  On  board  the  Plantagenet,  it  is  the  custom 
for  an  officer  to  report  any  important  duty  done,  as  soon 
as  it  is  in  a  condition  to  be  thus  laid  before  the  superior  ! " 

"I  presume  that  is  the  usage  in  all  of  his  Majesty's 
ships,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  ;  but  I  have  been  taught  that  a 
proper  discretion,  when  it  does  not  interfere  with  positive 
orders,  and  sometimes  when  it  does,  is  a  surer  sign  of  a 


THE    TirO   ADMIRALS.  67 

useful  officer,  than  even  the  most  slavish  attention  to 
rules." 

"That  is  a  just  distinction,  young  gentleman,  though 
safer  in  the  hands  of  a  captain,  perhaps,  than  in  those  of  a 
lieutenant,"  returned  the  Vice-admiral,  glancing  at  his 
friend,  though  he  secretly  admired  the  youth's  spirit 
" Discretion  is  a  comparative  term;  meaning  different 
things  with  different  persons.  May  I  presume  to  ask 
what  Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe  calls  discretion  in  the 
present  instance?" 

"You  have  every  right,  sir,  to  know,  and  I  only  wanted 
your  permission  to  tell  my  whole  story.  While  waiting  to 
see  the  London  mail  start  with  your  dispatches,  and  to  rest 
my  horse,  a  post-chaise  arrived  that  was  carrying  a  gentle 
man  who  is  suspected  of  being  a  Jacobite,  to  his  country- 
seat,  some  thirty  miles  farther  west.  This  gentleman  held 
a  secret  conference  with  another  person  of  the  same  way 
of  thinking  as  himself  ;  and  there  was  so  much  running 
and  sending  of  messages  that  I  could  not  avoid  suspecting 
something  was  in  the  wind.  Going  to  the  stable  to  look 
after  Sir  Wycherly 's  hunter,  for  I  knew  how  much  he 
values  the  animal,  I  found  one  of  the  stranger's  servants 
in  discourse  with  the  hostler.  The  latter  told  me,  when 
the  chaise  was  gone,  that  great  tidings  had  reached  Exeter, 
before  the  travellers  quitted  the  town.  These  tidings  he 
described  as  news  that  '  Charley  was  no  longer  over  the 
water.'  It  is  useless,  Sir  Gervaise,  to  question  one  so 
stupid  ;  and,  at  the  inn,  though  all  observed  the  manner  of 
the  traveller  and  his  visitor,  no  one  could  tell  me  anything 
positive.  Under  the  circumstances,  therefore,  I  threw 
myself  into  the  return  chaise,  and  went  as  far  as  Fowey, 
where  I  met  the  important  intelligence  that  Prince  Charles 
had  actually  landed,  and  is  at  this  moment  up,  in  Scot 
land!" 

"The  Pretender  is  then  really  once  more  among  us!" 
exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise,  like  one  who  had  half  suspected 
the  truth. 

"  Not  the  Pretender,  Sir  Gervaise,  as  I  understand  the 
news  ;  but  his  young  son,  Prince  Charles  Edward,  one 
much  more  likely  to  give  the  kingdom  trouble.  The  fact 
is  certain,  I  believe,  and  as  it  struck  me  that  it  might  be 
important  to  the  commander  of  so  fine  a  fleet  as  this 
which  lies  under  Wychecombe  Head,  to  know  it,  I  lost  no 
time  in  getting  back  with  the  intelligence." 


68  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  You  have  done  well,  young  gentleman,  and  have 
proved  that  discretion  is  quite  as  useful  and  respectable  in 
a  lieutenant,  as  it  can  possibly  prove  to  be  in  a  full  admiral 
of  the  white.  Go,  now,  and  make  yourself  fit  to  take  a 
seat  by  the  side  of  one  of  the  sweetest  girls  in  England, 
where  I  shall  expect  to  see  you  in  fifteen  minutes.  Well, 
Bluewater,"  he  continued,  as  soon  as  the  door  closed  on 
Wycherly  ;  "this  is  news,  of  a  certainty  !" 

"  It  is,  indeed  ;  and  I  take  it  to  be  the  news,  or  connected 
with  the  news,  that  you  have  sent  to  the  First  Lord,  in  the 
late  dispatches.  It  has  not  taken  you  altogether  by  sur 
prise,  if  the  truth  were  said?" 

"  It  has  not,  I  confess.  You  know  what  excellent  intel 
ligence  we  have  had,  the  past  season,  from  the  Bordeaux 
agent ;  he  sent  me  off  such  proofs  of  this  intended  expe 
dition,  that  I  thought  it  advisable  to  bring  the  fleet  north 
on  the  strength  of  it,  that  the  ships  might  be  used  as  the 
exigency  should  require." 

"Thank  God,  it  is  a  long  way  to  Scotland,  and  it  is  not 
probable  we  can  reach  the  coast  of  that  country  until  all  is 
over !  I  wish  we  had  inquired  of  this  young  man  with 
what  sort  of,  and  how  large  a  naval  force  the  Prince  was 
accompanied.  Shall  I  send  for  him,  that  \ve  may  put  the 
question  ?" 

"  It  is  better  that  you  remain  passive,  Admiral  Blue- 
water.  I  now  promise  you  that  you  shall  learn  all  I  hear ; 
and  that,  under  the  circumstances,  I  think  ought  to  con 
tent  you." 

The  two  Admirals  now  separated,  though  neither  re 
turned  to  the  company  for  some  little  time.  The  intelli 
gence  they  had  just  learned  was  too  important  to  be  lightly 
received,  and  each  of  these  veteran  seamen  paced  his  room, 
for  near  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  reflecting  on  what  might  be 
the  probable  consequences  to  the  country  and  to  himself. 
Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  expected  some  event  of  this  nature, 
and  was  less  taken  by  surprise  than  his  friend  ;  still  he 
viewed  the  crisis  as  exceedingly  serious,  and  as  one  likely 
to  destroy  the  prosperity  of  the  nation,  as  well  as  the  peace 
of  families.  There  was  then  in  England,  as  there  is  to-day, 
and  as  there  probably  will  be  throughout  all  time,  two 
parties  ;  one  of  which  clung  to  the  past  with  its  hereditary 
and  exclusive  privileges,  while  the  other  looked  more 
toward  change  for  anticipated  advantages,  and  created 
honors.  Religion,  in  that  age,  was  made  the  stalking-horse 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  69 

of  politicians  ;  as  is  liberty  on  one  side,  and  order  on  the 
other,  in  our  own  times  ;  and  men  just  as  blindly,  as  vehe 
mently,  and  as  regardless  of  principle,  submitted  to  party  in 
the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  as  we  know  they  do 
in  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth.  The  mode  of  acting  was 
a  little  changed,  and  the  watchwords  and  rallying  points 
were  not  exactly  the  same,  it  is  true  ;  but,  in  all  that  re 
lates  to  ignorant  confidence,  ferocious  denunciation,  and 
selfishness  but  half  concealed  under  the  cloak  of  patriotism, 
the  England  of  the  original  whigs  and  tories,  was  the 
England  of  conservatism  and  reform,  and  the  America  in 
1776,  the  America  of  1841. 

Still  thousands  always  act,  in  political  struggles,  with 
the  fairest  intentions,  though  they  act  in  bitter  opposition 
to  each  other.  When  prejudice  becomes  the  stimulant  of 
ignorance,  no  other  result  may  be  hoped  for ;  and  the  ex 
perience  of  the  world,  in  the  management  of  human  affairs, 
has  left  the  upright  and  intelligent  but  one  conclusion  as 
the  reward  of  all  the  pains  and  penalties  with  which  polit 
ical  revolutions  have  been  effected — the  conviction  that  no 
institutions  can  be  invented  which  a  short  working  does  not 
show  will  be  perverted  from  their  original  intention,  by 
the  ingenuity  of  those  intrusted  with  power. 

In  a  word,  the  physical  constitution  of  man  does  not 
more  infallibly  tend  to  decrepitude  and  imbecility,  imper 
iously  requiring  a  new  being  and  a  new  existence  to  fulfil 
the  objects  of  his  creation,  than  the  moral  constitutions 
which  are  the  fruits  of  his  wisdom,  contain  the  seeds  of 
abuses  and  decay,  that  human  selfishness  will  be  as  certain 
to  cultivate,  as  human  indulgence  is  to  aid  the  course  of 
nature,  in  hastening  the  approaches  of  death.  Thus,  while 
on  the  one  hand  there  exists  the  constant  incentive  of 
abuses  and  hopes  to  induce  us  to  wish  for  modifications  of 
the  social  structure,  on  the  other  there  stands  the  experi 
ence  of  ages  to  demonstrate  their  insufficiency  to  produce 
the  happiness  we  aim  at.  If  the  world  advances  in  civili 
zation  and  humanity,  it  is  because  knowledge  will  produce 
its  fruits  in  every  soil,  and  under  every  condition  of  culti 
vation  and  improvement. 

Both  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  and  Admiral  Blue-water  believed 
themselves  to  be  purely  governed  by  principles,  in  sub 
mitting  to  the  bias  that  each  felt  toward  the  conflicting 
claims  of  the  houses  of  Brunswick  and  Stuart.  Perhaps 
no  two  men  in  England  were  in  fact  less  influenced  by 


yo  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

motives  that  they  ought  to  feel  ashamed  to  own  ;  and  yet, 
as  has  been  seen,  while  they  thought  so  much  alike  on 
most  other  things,  on  this  they  were  diametrically  opposed 
to  each  other.  During  the  many  years  of  arduous  and 
delicate  duties  that  they  had  served  together,  jealousy, 
distrust,  and  discontent  had  been  equally  strangers  to  their 
bosoms  ;  for  each  had  ever  felt  the  assurance  that  his  own 
honor,  happiness,  and  interests  were  as  much  ruling  mo 
tives  with  his  friend,  as  they  could  well  be  with  himself. 
Their  lives  had  been  constant  scenes  of  mutual  but  unpre 
tending  kindnesses  ;  and  this  under  circumstances  that 
naturally  awakened  all  the  most  generous  and  manly  sen 
timents  of  their  natures.  When  young  men,  their  laughing 
messmates  had  nicknamed  them  Py lades  and  Orestes  ;  and 
later  in  life,  on  account  of  their  cruising  so  much  in  com 
pany,  they  were  generally  known  in  the  navy  as  the  "  twin 
captains."  On  several  occasions  had  they  fought  enemies' 
frigates,  and  captured  them  ;  on  these  occasions,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  the  senior  of  the  two  became  most  known 
to  the  nation  ;  but  Sir  Gervaise  had  made  the  most  gene 
rous  efforts  to  give  his  junior  a  full  share  of  the  credit, 
while  Captain  Bluewater  never  spoke  of  the  affairs  without 
mentioning  them  as  victories  of  the  Commodore.  In  a 
word,  on  all  occasions,  and  under  all  circumstances,  it 
appeared  to  be  the  aim  of  these  generous-minded  and 
gallant  seamen,  to  serve  each  other,  nor  was  this  attempted 
with  any  effort,  or  striving  for  effect  :  all  that  was  said, 
or  done,  coming  naturally  and  spontaneously  from  the 
heart.  But,  for  the  first  time  in  their  lives,  events  had 
now  occurred  which  threatened  a  jarring  of  the  feelings 
between  them,  if  they  did  not  lead  to  acts  which  must 
inevitably  place  them  in  open  and  declared  hostility  to 
each  other.  No  wonder,  then,  that  both  looked  at  the 
future  with  gloomy  forebodings,  and  a  distrust,  which,  if 
it  did  not  render  them  unhappy,  at  least  produced  uneasi 
ness. 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

The  circle  formed,  we  sit  in  silent  state, 

Like  figures  drawn  upon  a  dial-plate  ; 

Yes  ma'am,  and  no  ma'am,  uttered  softly,  show, 

Every  five  minutes,  how  the  minutes  go. — COWPER. 

IT  is  scarcely  necessary  to  tell  the  reader  that  England, 
as  regarded  material  civilization,  was  a  very  different 
country  a  hundred  years  since,  from  what  it  is  to-day. 
We  are  writing  of  an  age  of  heavy  wagons,  coaches  and 
six,  post-chaises  and  four  ;  and  not  of  an  era  of  MacAdam- 
roads,  or  of  cars  flying  along  by  steam.  A  man  may  now 
post  down  to  a  country-house,  some  sixty  or  eighty  miles, 
to  dinner  ;  and  this,  too,  by  the  aid  of  only  a  pair  of  horses  ; 
but,  in  1745  such  an  engagement  would  have  required  at 
least  a  start  on  the  previous  day  ;  and,  in  many  parts  of  the 
island,  it  would  have  been  safer  to  have  taken  two  days' 
grace.  Scotland  was  then  farther  from  Devonshire,  in  effect, 
than  Geneva  is  now;  and  news  travelled  slowly,  and  with  the 
usual  exaggerations  and  uncertainties  of  delay.  It  was  no 
wonder,  then,  that  a  Jacobite  who  was  posting  off  to  his 
country-house— the  focus  of  an  English  landlord's  influ 
ence  and  authority — filled  with  intelligence  that  had 
reached  him  through  the  activity  of  zealous  political  par 
tisans,  preceded  the  more  regular  tidings  of  the  mail,  by 
several  hours.  The  little  that  had  escaped  this  individual, 
or  his  servants  rather,  for  the  gentleman  was  tolerably 
discreet  himself,  confiding  in  only  one  or  two  particular 
friends  at  each  relay,  had  not  got  out  to  the  world,  either 
very  fullv,  or  very  clearly.  Wycherly  had  used  intelligence 
in  making  his  inquiries,  and  he  had  observed  an  officer's 
prudence  in  keeping  his  news  for  the  ears  of  his  superior 
alone.  When  Sir  Gervaise  joined  the  party  in  the  drawing- 
room,  therefore,  he  saw  that  Sir  Wycherly  knew  nothing 
of  what  had  occurred  at  the  north  ;  and  he  intended  the 
glance  which  he  directed  at  the  Lieutenant  to  convey  a 
hearty  approval  of  his  discretion.  This  forbearance  did 
more  to  raise  the  young  officer  in  the  opinion  of  the  prac 
ticed  and  thoughtful  Admiral,  than  the  gallantry  with 
which  the  youth  had  so  recently  purchased  his  commission  ; 
for  while  many  were  brave,  few  had  the  self-command  and 
prudence,  under  circumstances  like  the  present,  that  alone 


72  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

can  make  a  man  safe  in  the  management  of  important 
public  interests.  The  approbation  that  Sir  Gervaise  felt, 
and  which  he  desired  to  manifest,  for  Wycherly's  prudence, 
was  altogether  a  principle,  however  ;  since  there  existed 
no  sufficient  reason  for  keeping  the  secret  from  as  con 
firmed  a  whig  as  his  host.  On  the  contrary,  the  sooner 
those  opinions,  which  both  of  them  would  be  apt  to  term 
sound,  were  promulgated  in  the  neighborhood,  the  better 
it  might  prove  for  the  good  cause.  The  Vice-admiral, 
therefore,  determined  to  communicate,  himself,  as  soon  as 
the  party  was  seated  at  table,  the  very  secret  which  he  so 
much  commended  the  youth  for  keeping.  Admiral  Blue- 
water  joining  the  company  at  this  instant,  Sir  Wychcrly 
led  Mrs.  Button  to  the  table.  No  alteration  had  taken 
place  among  the  guests,  except  that  Sir  Gervaise  wore  the 
red  ribbon  ;  a  change  in  his  dress  that  his  friend  considered 
to  be  openly  hoisting  the  standard  of  the  house  of  Hanover. 

"  One  would  not  think,  Sir  Wycherly,"  commenced  the 
Vice-admiral,  glancing  his  eyes  around  him,  as  soon  as 
all  were  seated,  "that  this  good  company  has  taken  its 
place  at  your  hospitable  table  in  the  midst  of  a  threatened 
civil  war,  if  not  of  an  actual  revolution." 

Every  hand  was  arrested,  and  every  eye  turned  toward 
the  speaker  ;  even  Admiral  Bluewater  earnestly  regarding 
his  friend,  anxious  to  know  what  would  come  next. 

"  I  believe  my  household  is  in  due  subjection,"  answered 
Sir  Wycherly,  gazing  to  the  right  and  left,  as  if  he  ex 
pected  to  see  his  butler  heading  a  revolt  ;  "and  I  fancy  the 
only  change  we  shall  see  to-day,  will  be  the  removal  of  the 
courses,  and  the  appearance  of  their  successors." 

"  Aye,  so  says  the  hearty,  comfortable  Devonshire  bar 
onet,  while  seated  at  his  own  board,  favored  by  abundance 
and  warm  friends.  But  it  would  seem  the  snake  was  only 
scotched,  not  killed." 

"  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  has  grown  figurative  ;  with  his 
snakes  and  .sr<?/r//ings,"  observed  the  Rear-admiral,  a  little 
dryly. 

"It  is  Scotch-lug,  as  you  say  with  so  much  emphasis, 
Bluewater.  I  suppose  Sir  Wycherly — I  suppose,  Mr. 
Button,  and  you,  my  pretty  young  lady — I  presume  all  of 
you  have  heard  of  such  a  person  as  the  Pretender  ;  some  of 
you  may  possibly  have  seen  him." 

Sir  Wycherly  now  dropped  his  knife  and  fork,  and  sat 
gazing  at  the  speaker  in  amazement.  To  him  the  Chris- 


777^   TWO  ADMIRALS. 


73 


tian  religion,  the  liberties  of  the  subject — more  especially 
of  the  baronet  and  lord  of  the  manor,  who  had  four  thou 
sand  a  year — and  the  Protestant  succession,  all  seemed  to 
be  in  sudden  danger. 

"I  always  told  my  brother,  the  judge — Mr.  Baron 
Wychecombe,  who  is  dead  and  gone — that  what  between 
the  French,  that  rogue  the  Pope,  and  the  spurious  off 
spring  of  King  James  II.,  we  should  yet  see  troublesome 
times  in  England  !  And  nowT,  sir,  my  predictions  are 
verified  !  " 

"  Not  as  to  England,  yet,  my  good  sir.  Of  Scotland  I 
have  not  quite  so  good  news  to  tell  you  ;  as  your  name 
sake,  here,  brings  us  the  tidings  that  the  son  of  the  Pre 
tender  has  landed  in  that  kingdom,  and  is  rallying  the 
clans.  He  has  come  unattended  by  any  Frenchmen  it 
would  seem,  and  has  thrown  himself  altogether  on  the  mis 
guided  nobles  and  followers  of  his  house." 

"  'Tis  at  least  a  chivalrous  and  princely  act  !  "  exclaimed 
Admiral  Bluewater. 

"  Yes — inasmuch  as  it  is  a  heedless  and  mad  one.  Eng 
land  is  not  to  be  conquered  by  a  rabble  of  half-dressed 
Scotchmen." 

"  True  ;  but  England  may  be  conquered  by  England, 
notwithstanding." 

Sir  Gervaise  now  chose  to  remain  silent,  for  never  before 
had  Bluewater  came  so  near  betraying  his  political  bias  in 
the  presence  of  third  persons.  This  pause  enabled"  Sir 
Wycherly  to  find  his  voice. 

"Let  me  see,  Tom,"  said  the  baronet,  "fifteen  and  ten 
are  twenty-five,  and  ten  are  thirty-five,  and  ten  are  forty- 
five — it  is  just  thirty  years  since  the  Jacobites  were  up 
before  !  It  would  seem  that  half  a  human  life  is  not  suffi 
cient  to  fill  the  cravings  of  a  Scotchman's  mawT  for  English 
gold." 

"  Twice  thirty  years  would  hardly  quell  the  promptings 
of  a  noble  spirit,  when  his  notions  of  justice  showed  him 
the  wray  to  the  English  throne,"  observed  Bluewater, 
coolly.  "  For  my  part,  I  like  the  spirit  of  this  young 
prince,  for  he  who  nobly  dares  nobly  deserves.  What  say 
you,  my  beautiful  neighbor  ?  " 

"  If  you  mean  to  address  me,  sir,  by  that  compliment," 
answered  Mildred,  modestly,  but  with  the  emphasis  that 
the  gentlest  of  her  sex  are  apt  to  use  when  they  feel 
strongly,  "  I  must  be  suffered  to  say  that  I  hope  every 


74  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

Englishman  will  dare  as  nobly,  and  deserve  as  well  in  de 
fense  of  his  liberties." 

"  Come,  come,  Bluewater,"  interrupted  Sir  Gervaise, 
with  a  gravity  that  almost  amounted  to  reproof,  "  I  cannot 
permit  such  innuendoes  before  one  so  young  and  unprac- 
ticed.  The  young  lady  might  really  suppose  that  his 
Majesty's  fleet  was  intrusted  to  men  unworthy  his  confi 
dence  by  the  cool  way  you  carry  on  the  joke.  I  propose, 
now,  Sir  Wycherly,  that  we  eat  our  dinner  in  peace,  and 
say  no  more  about  this  mad  expedition,  until  the  cloth  is 
drawn,  at  least.  It's  a  long  road  to  Scotland,  and  there  is 
little  danger  that  this  adventurer  will  find  his  way  to  Dev 
onshire  before  the  nuts  are  placed  before  us." 

"  It  would  be  nuts  to  us,  if  he  did,  Sir  Gervaise,"  put  in 
Tom  Wychecombe,  laughing  heartily  at  his  own  wit.  "  My 
uncle  would  enjoy  nothing  more  than  to  see  the  spurious 
sovereign  on  his  own  estate,  here,  and  in  the  hands  of  his 
tenants.  I  think,  sir,  that  Wychecombe  and  one  or  two  of 
the  adjoining  manors  would  dispose  of  him." 

"  That  might  depend  on  circumstances,"  the  Admiral 
answered,  a  little  dryly,  "  These  Scots  have  such  a  thing 
as  a  claymore,  and  are  desperate  fellows,  they  tell  me,  at  a 
charge.  The  very  fact  of  arming  a  soldier  with  a  short 
sword,  shows  a  most  bloody-minded  disposition." 

"  You  forget,  Sir  Gervaise,  that  we  have  our  Cornish 
hug,  here  in  the  west  of  England  ;  and  I  will  put  our  fel 
lows  against  any  Scotch  regiment  that  ever  charged  an 
enemy." 

Tom  laughed  again  at  his  own  allusion  to  a  proverbial 
mode  of  grappling,  familiar  to  the  adjoining  county. 

"  This  is  all  very  well,  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  so 
long  as  Devonshire  is  in  the  west  of  England,  and  Scot 
land  lies  north  of  the  Tweed.  SirWycherlv  might  as  well 
leave  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  the  Duke  and  his  regulars, 
if  it  were  only  in  the  way  of  letting  every  man  follow  his 
own  trade. 

"  It  strikes  me  as  so  singularly  insolent  in  a  base-born  boy 
like  this  pretending  to  the  English  crown,  that  I  can  bare 
ly  speak  of  him  with  patience  !  We  all  know  that  his 
father  was  a  changeling,  and  the  son  of  a  changeling  can 
have  no  more  right  than  the  father  himself.  I  do  not  re 
member  what  the  law  terms  such  pretenders  ;  but  I  dare 
say  it  is  something  sufficiently  odious." 

"Films  nullius,  Thomas,"  said  Sir  Wycherly,  with  a  little 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  75 

eagerness,  to  show  his  learning.  "  That's  the  very  phrase. 
I  have  it  from  the  first  authority — my  late  brother,  Baron 
Wychecombe,  giving  it  to  me  with  his  own  mouth,  on  an 
occasion  that  called  for  an  understanding  of  such  matters. 
The  judge  was  a  most  accurate  lawyer,  particularly  in  ail 
that  related  to  names  ;  and  I'll  engage,  if  he  were  living 
at  this  moment,  he  would  tell  you  the  legal  appellation  of 
a  changeling  ought  to  be  filius  nullius." 

In  spite  of  his  native  impudence,  and  an  innate  deter 
mination  to  make  his  way  in  the  world,  without  much  re 
gard  to  truth,  Tom  Wychecombe  felt  his  cheek  burn  so 
much,  at  this  innocent  allusion  of  his  reputed  uncle,  that 
he  was  actually  obliged  to  turn  away  his  face,  in  order  to 
conceal  his  confusion.  Had  any  moral  delinquency  of  his 
own  been  implicated  in  the  remark,  he  might  have  found 
means  to  steel  himself  against  its  consequences — but,  as  is 
only  too  often  the  case,  he  was  far  more  ashamed  of  a 
misfortune  over  which  he  had  no  possible  control,  than  he 
would  have  been  of  a  crime  for  which  he  was  strictly  re 
sponsible  in  morals.  Sir  Gervaise  smiled  at  Sir  Wycherly's 
knowledge  of  law  terms,  not  to  say  of  Latin  ;  and  turning 
good-humoredly  to  his  friend  the  Rear-admiral,  anxious 
to  re-establish  friendly  relations  with  him,  he  said,  with 
well-concealed  irony : 

"  Sir  Wycherly  must  be  right,  Bluewater.  A  changeling 
is  nobody — that  is  to  say,  he  is  not  the  body  he  pretends 
to  be,  which  is  substantially  being  nobody — and  the  son  of 
nobody  is  clearly  a  filim*  nullius.  And  now  having  settled 
what  may  be  called  the  law  of  the  case,  I  demand  a  truce, 
until  we  get  our  nuts  ;  for  as  to  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe's 
having  his  nut  to  crack,  at  least  to-day,  I  take  it  there  are 
too  many  loyal  subjects  in  the  north." 

When  men  know  each  other  as  well  as  was  the  case  with 
our  two  admirals,  there  are  a  thousand  secret  means  of  an 
noyance,  as  well  as  of  establishing  amity.  Admiral  Blue- 
water  was  well  aware  that  Sir  Gervaise  was  greatly  supe 
rior  to  the  vulgar  whig  notion  of  the  day,  which  believed  in 
the  fabricated  tale  of  the  Pretender's  spurious  birth — and 
the  secret  and  ironical  allusion  he  had  made  to  his  impres 
sion  on  that  subject,  acted  as  oil  to  his  own  chafed  spirit, 
disposing  him  to  moderation.  This  had  been  the  intention 
of  the  other  ;  and  the  smiles  they  exchanged,  sufficiently 
proved  that  their  usual  mental  intercourse  was  temporarily 
restored  at  last. 


76  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

Deference  to  his  guests  made  Sir  Wycherly  consent  to 
change  the  subject,  though  he  was  a  little  mystified  with 
the  obvious  reluctance  of  the  t\vo  admirals  to  speak  of  an 
enterprise  that  ought  to  be  uppermost,  according  to  his 
notion  of  the  matter,  in  every  Englishman's  mind.  Tom 
had  received  a  rebuke  that  kept  him  silent  during  the  rest 
of  the  dinner — while  the  others  were  content  to  eat  and 
drink,  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 

It  is  seldom  that  a  party  takes  its  seat  at  table  without 
some  secret  manoeuvring,  as  to  the  neighborhood,  when  the 
claims  of  rank  and  character  do  not  interfere  with  personal 
wishes.  Sir  Wycherly  had  placed  Sir  Gervaise  on  his 
right,  and  Mrs.  Button  on  his  left. 

But  Admiral  Bluewater  had  escaped  from  his  control, 
and  taken  his  seat  next  to  Mildred,  who  had  been  placed 
by  Tom  Wychecombe  close  to  himself,  at  the  foot  of  the 
table.  Wycherly  occupied  the  seat  opposite,  and  this  com 
pelled  Button,  and  Mr.  Rotherham,  the  Vicar,  to  fill  the 
other  two  chairs.  The  good  Baronet  had  made  a  wry  face, 
at  seeing  a  rear-admiral  so  unworthily  bestowed  ;  but  Sir 
Gervaise  assuring  him  that  his  friend  was  never  so  happy 
as  when  in  the  service  of  beauty,  he  was  fain  to  submit  to 
the  arrangement. 

That  Admiral  Bluewater  was  struck  with  Mildred's 
beauty,  and  pleased  with  her  natural  and  feminine  man 
ner,  one  altogether  superior  to  what  might  have  been  ex 
pected  from  her  station  in  life,  was  very  apparent  to  all  at 
table  ;  though  it  was  quite  impossible  to  mistake  his  pa 
rental  and  frank  air  for  any  other  admiration  than  that 
which  was  suitable  to  the  difference  in  years,  and  in  uni 
son  with  their  respective  conditions  and  experience.  Mrs. 
Button,  so  far  from  taking  the  alarm  at  the  Rear-admiral's 
attentions,  felt  gratification  in  observing  them  ;  and  per 
haps  she  experienced  a  secret  pride  in  the  consciousness 
of  their  being  so  well  merited.  It  has  been  said,  already, 
that  she  was,  herself,  the  daughter  of  a  land-steward  of  a 
nobleman,  in  an  adjoining  county  ;  but  it  may  be  well  to 
add,  here,  that  she  had  been  so  great  a  favorite  with  the 
daughters  of  her  father's  employer,  as  to  have  been  ad 
mitted,  in  a  measure,  to  their  society  ;  and  to  have  enjoyed 
some  of  the  advantages  of  their  education.  Lady  Wilme- 
ter,  the  mother  of  the  young  ladies,  to  whom  she  was  ad 
mitted  as  a  sort  of  humble  companion,  had  formed  the 
opinion  it  might  be  an  advantage  to  the  girl  to  educate 


THE    TWO  AD 


her  for  a  governess  ;  little  conceiving,  in  Her  own  situation, 
that  she  was  preparing  a  course  of  life  for  Martha  Ray, 
for  such  was  Mrs.  Button's  maiden  name,  that  was  perhaps 
the  least  enviable  of  all  the  careers  that  a  virtuous  and  in 
telligent  female  can  run.  This  was  as  education  and  gov 
ernesses  were  appreciated  a  century  ago  ;  the  world,  with 
all  its  faults  and  sophisms,  having  unquestionably  made  a 
vast  stride  toward  real  civilization,  and  moral  truths,  in  a 
thousand  important  interests,  since  that  time.  Neverthe 
less,  the  education  was  received,  together  with  a  good  many 
tastes,  and  sentiments,  and  opinions,  which  it  may  well  be 
questioned,  whether  they  contributed  most  to  the  happi 
ness  or  unhappiness  of  the  pupil,  in  her  future  life.  Frank 
Button,  then  a  handsome,  though  far  from  polished  young 
sea-lieutenant,  interfered  with  the  arrangement,  by  making 
Martha  Ray  his  wife,  when  she  was  two-and-twenty.  This 
match  was  suitable,  in  all  respects,  with  the  important  ex 
ception  of  the  educations  and  characters  of  the  parties. 
Still,  as  a  woman  may  well  be  more  refined,  and  in  some 
things,  even  more  intelligent  than  her  husband  ;  and  as 
sailors,  in  the  commencement  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
formed  a  class  of  society  much  more  distinct  than  they  do 
to-day,  there  would  have  been  nothing  absolutely  incom 
patible  with  the  future  well-being  of  the  young  couple, 
had  each  pursued  his  or  her  own  career,  in  a  manner  suit 
able  to  their  respective  duties.  Young  Button  took  away 
his  bride,  with  the  two  thousand  pounds  she  had  received 
from  her  father,  and  for  a  long  time  he  was  seen  no  more 
in  his  native  county.  After  an  absence  of  some  twenty 
years,  however,  he  returned,  broken  in  constitution,  and 
degraded  in  rank.  Mrs.  Button  brought  with  her  one 
child,  the  beautiful  girl  introduced  to  the  reader,  and  to 
whom  she  was  studiously  imparting  all  she  had  herself  ac 
quired  in  the  adventitious  manner  mentioned.  Such  were 
the  means  by  which  Mildred,  like  her  mother,  had  been 
educated  above  her  condition  in  life  ;  and  it  had  been  re 
marked  that,  though  Mrs.  Button  had  probably  no  cause 
to  felicitate  herself  on  the  possession  of  manners  and  sen 
timents  that  met  with  so  little  sympathy  or  appreciation, 
in  her  actual  situation,  she  assiduously  cultivated  the  same 
manners  and  opinions  in  her  daughter  ;  frequently  mani 
festing  a  sort  of  sickly  fastidiousness  on  the  subject  of 
Mildred's  deportment  and  tastes.  It  is  probable  the  girl 
owed  her  improvement  in  both,  however,  more  to  the 


78  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

circumstance  of  her  being  left  so  much  alone  with  her 
mother,  than  to  any  positive  lessons  she  received  ;  the  in 
fluence  of  example,  for  years,  producing  its  usual  effects. 

No  one  in  Wychecombe  positively  knew  the  history  of 
Button's  professional  degradation.  He  had  never  risen 
higher  than  to  be  a  Lieutenant ;  and  from  this  station  lie 
had  fallen  by  the  sentence  of  a  court-martial.  His  resto 
ration  to  the  service,  in  the  humbler  and  almost  hopeless 
rank  of  a  master,  was  believed  to  have  been  brought  about 
by  Mrs.  Button's  influence  with  the  present  Lord  Wilmeter, 
who  was  the  brother  of  her  youthful  companions.  That 
the  husband  had  wasted  his  means,  was  as  certain  as  that 
his  habits,  on  the  score  of  temperance  at  least,  were  bad, 
and  that  his  wife,  if  not  positively  broken-hearted,  was  an 
unhappy  woman  ;  one  to  be  pitied,  and  admired.  Sir  Wych- 
erly  was  little  .addicted  to  analysis,  but  he  could  not  fail  to 
discover  the  superiority  of  the  wife  and  daughter,  over  the 
husband  and  father  ;  and  it  is  due  to  his  young  namesake 
to  add,  that  his  obvious  admiration  of  Mildred  was  quite 
as  much  owing  to  her  mind,  deportment,  character,  and 
tastes,  as  to  her  exceeding  personal  charms. 

This  little  digression  may,  perhaps,  in  the  reader's  eyes, 
excuse  the  interest  Admiral  Bluewater  took  in  our  heroine. 
With  the  indulgence  of  years  and  station,  and  the  tact  of  a 
man  of  the  world,  he  succeeded  in  drawing  Mildred  out, 
without  alarming  her  timidity  ;  and  he  was  surprised  at 
discovering  the  delicacy  of  her  sentiments,  and  the  accu 
racy  of  her  knowledge.  He  was  too  conversant  with  soci 
ety  and  had  too  much  good  taste,  to  make  any  deliberate 
parade  of  opinions  ;  but  in  the  quiet  manner  that  is  so 
easy  to  those  who  are  accustomed  to  deal  with  truths  and 
tastes  as  familiar  things,  he  succeeded  in  inducing  her  to 
answer  his  own  remarks,  to  sympathize  with  his  feelings, 
to  laugh  when  he 'laughed,  and  to  assume  a  look  of  disap 
proval,  when  he  felt  that  disapprobation  was  just.  To  all 
this  Wycherly  was  a  delighted  witness,  and  in  some  re 
spects  he  participated  in  the  conversation  ;  for  there  was 
evidently  no  wish  on  the  part  of  the  Rear-admiral  to 
monopolize  his  beautiful  companion  to  himself.  Perhaps 
the  position  of  the  young  man,  directly  opposite  to  her, 
aided  in  inducing  Mildred  to  bestow  so  many  grateful 
looks  and  sweet  smiles  on  the  older  officer  ;  for  she  could 
not  glance  across  the  table,  without  meeting  the  admiring 
gaze  of  Wycherly  fastened  on  her  own  blushing  face. 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  79 

It  is  certain,  if  our  heroine  did  not,  during  this  repast, 
make  a  conquest  of  Admiral  Bluewater,  in  the  ordinary 
meaning  of  the  term,  that  she  made  him  a  friend.  Sir 
Gervaise,  even,  was  struck  with  the  singular  and  devoted 
manner  in  which  his  old  messmate  gave  all  his  attention  to 
the  beautiful  girl  at  his  side  ;  and,  once  or  twice,  he  caught 
himself  conjuring  whether  it  were  possible  that  one  as 
practised,  as  sensible,  and  as  much  accustomed  to  the 
beauties  of  the  court,  as  Bluewater,  had  actually  been 
caught  by  the  pretty  face  of  a  country  girl,  when  so  well 
turned  of  fifty,  himself  !  Then  discarding  the  notion  as 
preposterous,  he  gave  his  attention  to  the  discourse  of  Sir 
Wychcrly ;  a  dissertation  on  rabbits  and  rabbit-warrens. 
In  this  manner  the  dinner  passed  away. 

Mrs.  Button  asked  her  host's  permission  to  retire  with 
her  daughter,  at  the  earliest  moment  permitted  by  pro 
priety.  In  quitting  the  room  she  cast  an  anxious  glance 
at  the  face  of  her  husband,  which  was  already  becoming 
flushed  with  his  frequent  applications  of  port  ;  and  in  spite 
of  an  effort  to  look  smiling  and  cheerful,  her  lip  quivered, 
and  by  the  time  she  and  Mildred  reached  the  drawing- 
room,  tears  were  fast  falling  down  her  cheeks.  No  expla 
nation  was  asked,  or  needed,  by  the  daughter,  who  threw 
herself  into  her  mother's  arms,  and  for  several  minutes  they 
wept  together,  in  silence.  Never  had  Mrs.  Dutton  spoken, 
even  to  Mildred,  of  the  besetting  and  degrading  vice  of 
her  husband  ;  but  it  had  been  impossible  to  conceal  its 
painful  consequences  from  the  world ;  much  less  from  one 
who  lived  in  the  bosom  of  her  family.  On  that  failing, 
which  the  wife  treated  so  tenderly,  the  daughter  of  course 
could  not  touch  ;  but  the  silent  communion  of  tears  had 
got  to  be  so  sweet  to  both,  that,  within  the  last  year,  it  was 
of  *ery  frequent  occurrence. 

"  Really,  Mildred,"  said  the  mother,  at  length,  after 
having  succeeded  in  suppressing  her  emotion,  and  in  dry 
ing  her  eyes,  while  she  smiled  fondly  in  the  face  of  the 
lovely  and  affectionate  girl,  "this  Admiral  Bluewater  is 
getting  to  be  so  particular,  I  hardly  know  how  to  treat  the 
matter." 

"  O  !  mother,  he  is  a  delightful  old  gentleman  !  and  he 
is  so  gentle,  while  he  is  so  frank,  that  he  wins  your  confi 
dence  almost  before  you  know  it.  I  wonder  if  he  could 
have  been  serious  in  what  he  said  about  the  noble  daring 
and  noble  deserving  of  Prince  Edward  ?  " 


8o  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  That  must  pass  for  trifling,  of  course  ;  the  ministry 
would  scarcely  employ  any  but  a  true  whig,  in  command 
of  a  fleet.  I  saw  several  of  his  family,  when  a  girl,  and 
have  always  heard  them  spoken  of  with  esteem  and  respect. 
Lord  Bluewater,  this  gentleman's  cousin,  was  very  inti 
mate  with  the  present  Lord  Wilmeter,  and  was  often  at  the 
castle.  I  remember  to  have  heard  that  he  had  a  disappoint 
ment  in  love,  when  quite  a  young  man,  and  that  he  has 
ever  since  been  considered  a  confirmed  bachelor.  So  you 
will  take  heed,  my  love." 

"The  warning  was  unnecessary,  dear  mother,"  returned 
Mildred,  laughing  ;  "  I  could  dote  on  the  Admiral  as  a 
father,  but  must  be  excused  from  considering  him  young 
enough  for  a  nearer  tie." 

"And  yet  he  has  the  much  admired  profession,  Mil 
dred,"  said  the  mother,  smiling  fondly,  and  yet  a  little 
archly.  "  I  have  often  heard  you  speak  of  your  passion 
for  the  sea." 

"  That  was  formerly,  mother,  when  I  spoke  as  a  sailor's 
daughter,  and  as  girls  are  apt  to  speak,  without  much  re 
flection.  I  do  not  know  that  I  think  better,  now,  of  a  sea 
man's  profession  than  I  do  of  any  other.  I  fear  there  is 
often  much  misery  in  store  for  soldiers'  and  sailors' 
wives." 

Mrs.  Button's  lip  quivered  again  ;  but  hearing  a  foot  at 
the  door,  she  made  an  effort  to  be  composed,  just  as  Admiral 
Bluewater  entered. 

"  I  have  run  away  from  the  bottle,  Mrs.  Button,  to  join 
you  and  your  fair  daughter,  as  I  would  run  from  an  enemy 
of  twice  my  force,"  he  said,  giving  each  lady  a  hand,  in  a 
manner  so  friendly,  as  to  render  the  act  more  than  gra 
cious  ;  for  it  was  kind.  "  Oakes  is  bowsing  out  his  jib 
with  his  brother  baronet,  as  we  sailors  say,  and  I  have 
hauled  out  of  the  line  without  a  signal." 

"  I  hope  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  does  not  consider  it  neces 
sary  to  drink  more  wine  than  is  good  for  the  mind  and 
body,"  observed  Mrs.  Button,  with  a  haste  that  she  im 
mediately  regretted. 

"  Not  he.  Gervaise  Oakes  is  as  discreet  a  man,  in  all 
that  relates  to  the  table,  as  an  anchorite  ;  and  yet  he  has  a 
faculty  of  seeming  to  drink,  that  makes  him  a  boon  com 
panion  for  a  four  bottle  man.  How  the  deuce  he  does  it, 
is  more  than  I  can  tell  you  ;  but  he  does  it  so  well,  that  he 
does  not  more  thoroughly  get  the  better  of  the  king's 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  8r 

enemies,  on  the  high  seas,  than  he  floors  his  friends  under 
the  table.  Sir  Wycherly  has  begun  his  libations  in  honor 
of  the  house  of  Hanover,  and  they  will  be  likely  to  make 
a  long  sitting." 

Mrs.  Dutton  sighed,  and  walked  away  to  a  window,  to 
conceal  the  paleness  of  her  cheeks.  Admiral  Bluewater, 
though  perfectly  abstemious  himself,  regarded  license  with 
the  bottle  after  dinner,  like  most  men  of  that  age,  as  a  very 
venial  weakness,  and  he  quietly  took  a  seat  by  the  side  of 
Mildred,  and  began  to  converse. 

"  I  hope,  young  lady,  as  a  sailor's  child,  you  feel  an 
hereditary  indulgence  for  a  seaman's  gossip,"  he  said. 
"We,  who  are  so  much  shut  up  in  our  ships,  have  a 
poverty  of  ideas  on  most  subjects  ;  and  as  to  always  talk 
ing  of  the  winds  and  waves,  that  would  fatigue  even  a 
poet." 

"  As  a  sailor's  daughter,  I  honor  my  father's  calling,  sir ; 
and  as  an  English  girl,  I  venerate  the  brave  defenders  of 
the  island.  Nor  do  I  know  that  seamen  have  less  to  say 
than  other  men." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  confess  this,  for — shall  I  be 
frank  with  you,  and  take  the  liberty  that  would  better  be 
come  a  friend  of  a  dozen  years,  than  an  acquaintance  of 
a  day  ?  and  yet,  I  know  not  why  it  is  so,  my  dear  child, 
but  I  feel  as  if  I  had  long  known  you,  though  I  am  certain 
we  never  met  before." 

"  Perhaps,  sir,  it  is  an  omen  that  we  are  long  to  know 
each  other,  in  future,"  said  Mildred,  with  the  winning  con 
fidence  of  unsuspecting  and  innocent  girlhood.  "I  hope 
you  will  use  no  reserve." 

"  Well,  then,  at  the  risk  of  making  a  sad  blunder,  I  will 
just  say,  that  'my  nephew  Tom'  is  anything  but  a  pre 
possessing  youth  ;  and  that  I  hope  all  eyes  regard  him 
exactly  as  he  appears  to  a  sailor  of  fifty-five." 

"  I  cannot  answer  for  more  than  those  of  a  girl  of 
nineteen,  Admiral  Bluewater,"  said  Mildred,  laughing ; 
"  but,  for  her,  I  think  I  may  say  that  she  does  not  look  on 
him  as  either  an  Adonis,  or  a  Crichton." 

"  Upon  my  soul !  I  am  right  glad  to  hear  this,  for  the 
fellow  has  accidental  advantages  enough  to  render  him 
formidable.  He  is  the  heir  to  the  baronetcy,  and  this 
estate,  I  believe  ?" 

lk  I  presume  he  is.     Sir  Wycherly  has  no  other  nephew 
• — or  at  least  this  is  the  eldest  of  three  brothers,  I  am  told 
6 


82  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

—and,  being  childless  himself,  it  must  be  so.  My  father 
tells  me  Sir  Wycherly  speaks  of  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe 
as  his  future  heir." 

"  Your  father  !  Aye,  fathers  look  on  these  matters  with 
eyes  very  different  from  their  daughters  ! " 

"  There  is  one  thing  about  seamen  that  renders  them 
at  least  safe  acquaintances,"  said  Mildred,  smiling  ;  "  I 
mean  their  frankness." 

"That  is  a  failing  of  mine,  as  I  have  heard.  But  you 
will  pardon  an  indiscretion  that  arises  in  the  interest  I 
feel  in  yourself.  The  eldest  of  three  brothers — is  the  Lieu 
tenant,  then,  a  younger  son  ?" 

"He  does  not  belong  to  the  family  at  all,  I  believe," 
Mildred  answered,  coloring  slightly,  in  spite  of  a  resolute 
determination  to  appear  unconcerned.  "  Mr.  Wycherly 
Wychecombe  is  no  relation  of  our  host,  I  hear  ;  though  he 
bears  both  of  his  names.  He  is  from  the  colonies  ;  born 
in  Virginia." 

"He  is  a  noble,  and  a  noble-looking  fellow!  Were  I 
the  Baronet,  I  would  break  the  entail,  rather  than  the 
acres  should  go  to  that  sinister-looking  nephew,  and  be 
stow  them  on  the  namesake.  From  Virginia,  and  not  even 
a  relative,  at  all  ? " 

"  That  is  what  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe  says ;  and 
even  Sir  Wycherly  confirms  it.  I  have  never  heard  Mr. 
Wycherly  Wychecombe  speak  on  the  subject,  himself." 

"  A  weakness  of  poor  human  nature!  The  lad  finds  an 
honorable,  ancient,  and  affluent  family  here,  and  has  not 
the  courage  to  declare  his  want  of  affinity  to  it ;  happening 
to  bear  the  same  name." 

Mildred  hesitated  about  replying  ;  but  a  generous  feel 
ing  got  the  better  of  her  diffidence.  "  I  have  never  seen 
any  thing  in  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe  to 
induce  me  to  think  that  he  feels  any  such  weakness,"  she 
said,  earnestly.  "  He  seems  rather  to  take  pride  in,  than 
to  feel  ashamed  of,  his  being  a  colonial  ;  and  you  know, 
we,  in  England,  hardly  look  on  the  people  of  the  colonies 
as  our  equals." 

"  And  have  you,  young  lady,  any  of  that  overweening 
prejudice  in  favor  of  your  own  island  ?" 

"  I  hope  not ;  but  I  think  most  persons  have.  Mr. 
Wycherly  Wychecombe  admits  that  Virginia  is  inferior  to 
England,  in  a  thousand  things  ;  and  yet  he  seems  to  take 
pride  in  his  birthplace." 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  83 

"  Every  sentiment  of  this  nature  is  to  be  traced  to  self. 
We  know  that  the  fact  is  irretrievable,  and  struggle  to  be 
proud  of  what  we  cannot  help.  The  Turk  will  tell  you 
he  has  the  honor  to  be  a  native  of  Stamboul  ;  the  Parisian 
will  boast  of  his  Faubourg,  and  the  cockney  exults  in  Wap- 
ping.  Personal  conceit  lies  at  the  bottom  of  all  ;  for  we 
fancy  that  the  places  to  which  we  belong,  are  not  places  to 
be  ashamed  of." 

"  And  yet  I  do  not  think  Mr.  Wycherly  at  all  remarkable 
for  conceit.  On  the  contrary,  he  is  rather  diffident  and 
unassuming." 

This  was  said  simply,  but  so  sincerely,  as  to  induce  the 
listener  to  fasten  his  penetrating  blue  eye  on  the  speaker, 
who  now  first  took  the  alarm,  and  felt  that  she  might  have 
said  too  much.  At  this  moment  the  two  young  men  en 
tered,  and  a  servant  appeared  to  request  that  Admiral 
Bluewater  would  do  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  the  favor  to  join 
him  in  the  dressing-room  of  the  latter. 

Tom  Wychecombe  reported  the  condition  of  the  dinner- 
table  to  be  such  as  to  render  it  desirable  for  all  but  three 
and  four  bottle  men  to  retire.  Hanoverian  toasts  and  sen 
timents  were  in  the  ascendant,  and  there  was  every  ap 
pearance  that  those  who  remained  intended  to  make  a 
night  of  it.  This  was  sad  intelligence  for  Mrs.  Dutton, 
who  had  come  forward  eagerly  to  hear  the  report,  but  who 
now  returned  to  the  window,  apparently  irresolute  as  to 
the  course  she  ought  to  take.  As  both  the  young  men  re 
mained  near  Mildred,  she  had  sufficient  opportunity  to 
come  to  her  decision  without  interruption  or  hinderance. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Somewhat  we  will  do. 

And,  look,  when  I  am  king,  claim  thou  of  me 
The  earldom  of  Hereford,  and  all  the  movables 
Whereof  the  king  my  brother  was  possessed. — Richard  III. 

REAR-ADMIRAL  Bluewater  found  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  pac 
ing  a  large  dressing-room,  quarter-deck  fashion,  with  as 
much  zeal  as  if  just  released  from  a  long  sitting,  on  official 
duty  in  his  own  cabin.  As  the  two  officers  were  perfectly 
familiar  with  each  other's  personal  habits,  neither  devi 
ated  from  his  particular  mode  of  indulging  his  ease  ;  but 


84  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

the  last  comer  quietly  took  his  seat,  in  a  large  chair,  dis 
posing  of  his  person  in  a  way  to  show  he  intended  to  con 
sult  his  comfort,  let  what  would  happen. 

"  Bluewater,"  commenced  Sir  Gervaisc,  "  this  is  a  very 
foolish  affair  of  the  Pretender's  son,  and  can  only  lead  to 
his  destruction.  I  look  upon  it  as  altogether  unfortu 
nate." 

"That,  as  it  may  terminate.  No  man  can  tell  what  a 
day,  or  an  hour,  may  bring  forth.  I  am  sure  such  a  rising 
was  one  of  the  last  things  /  have  been  anticipating,  down 
yonder,  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay." 

"  I  wish,  with  all  my  heart,  we  had  never  left  it,"  mut 
tered  Sir  Gervaise,  so  low  that  his  companion  did  not  hear 
him.  Then  he  added  in  a  louder  tone,  "  Our  duty,  how 
ever,  is  very  simple.  We  have  only  to  obey  orders  ;  and 
it  seems  that  the  young  man  has  no  naval  force  to  sustain 
him.  We  shall  probably  be  sent  to  watch  Brest  or  L'Ori- 
ent,  or  some  other  port.  Monsieur  must  be  kept  in,  let 
what  will  happen." 

"  I  rather  think  it  would  be  better  to  let  him  out,  our 
chances  on  the  high  seas  being  at  least  as  good  as  his 
own.  I  am  no  friend  of  blockades,  which  strike  me  as  an 
un-English  mode  of  carrying  on  a  war." 

"You  are  right  enough,  Dick,  in  the  main,"  returned 
Sir  Gervaise,  laughing. 

"Aye,  and  on  the  main,  Cakes.  I  sincerely  hope  the 
First  Lord  will  not  send  a  man  like  you,  who  are  every 
way  so  capable  of  giving  an  account  of  your  enemy  with 
plenty  of  sea-room,  on  duty  so  scurvy  as  a  blockade." 

"  A  man  like  me!  Why  a  man  like  me  in  particular  ?  I 
trust  I  am  to  have  the  pleasure  of  Admiral  Bluewater's 
company,  advice,  and  assistance  ? " 

"  An  inferior  never  can  know,  Sir  Gervaise,  where  it  may 
suit  the  pleasure  of  his  superiors  to  order  him." 

"That  distinction  of  superior  and  inferior,  Bluewater, 
will  one  day  lead  you  into  a  confounded  scrape,  I  fear.  If 
you  consider  Charles  Stuart  your  sovereign,  it  is  not  prob 
able  that  orders  issued  by  a  servant  of  King  George  will 
be  much  respected.  I  hope  you  will  do  nothing  hastily, 
or  without  consulting  your  oldest  and  truest  friend." 

"You  know  my  sentiments,  and  there  is  little  use  in 
dwelling  on  them  now.  So  long  as  the  quarrel  was  between 
my  own  country  and  a  foreign  land,  I  have  been  content  to 
serve  ;  but  when  my  lawful  prince,  or  his  son  and  heir, 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  85 

comes  in  this  gallant  and  chivalrous  manner,  throwing 
himself,  as  it  might  be,  into  the  very  arms  of  his  subjects, 
confiding  all  to  their  loyalty  and  spirit,  it  makes  such  an 
appeal  to  every  nobler  feeling,  that  the  heart  finds  it  diffi 
cult  to  repulse.  I  could  have  joined  Norris,  with  right 
good  will,  in  dispersing  and  destroying  the  armament  that 
Louis  XV.  was  sending  against  us,  in  this  very  cause ;  but 
here  everything  is  English,  and  Englishmen  have  the 
quarrel  entirely  to  themselves.  I  do  not  see  ho\v,  as  a 
loyal  subject  of  my  hereditary  prince,  I  can  well  refrain 
from  joining  his  standard." 

"And  would  -you,  Dick  Bluewater,  who,  to  my  certain 
knowledge,  were  sent  on  board  ship  at  twelve  years  of  age, 
and  who,  for  more  than  forty  years,  have  been  a  man-of- 
war's-man,  body  and  soul  ;  would  you  now  strip  your  old 
hulk  of  the  sea-blue  that  has  so  long  covered  and  become 
it,  rig  yourself  out  like  a  soldier,  with  a  feather  in  your 
hat — aye,  d e,  and  a  camp-kettle  on  your  arm,  and  fol 
low  a  drummer,  like  one  of  your  kinsmen,  Lord  Bluewa- 
ter's  fellows  of  the  guards  ? — for  of  sailors,  your  lawful 
prince,  as  you  call  him,  hasn't  enough  to  stopper  his  con 
science,  or  to  whip  the  tail  of  his  coat,  to  keep  it  from 
being  torn  to  tatters  by  the  heather  of  Scotland.  If  you 
do  follow  the  adventurer,  it  must  be  in  some  such  charac 
ter,  since  I  question  if  he  can  muster  a  seaman  to  tell  him 
the  bearings  of  London  from  Perth." 

"When  I  join  him  he  will  be  better  off." 

"  And  what  could  even  you  do  alone  among  a  parcel  of 
Scotchmen,  running  about  their  hills  under  bare  poles  ? 
Your  signals  will  not  manoeuvre  regiments,  and  as  for  ma 
noeuvring  in  any  other  manner,  you  know  nothing.  No — 
no  ;  stay  where  you  are,  and  help  an  old  friend  with  knowl 
edge  that  is  useful  to  him.  I  should  be  afraid  to  do  a 
dashing  thing,  unless  I  felt  the  certainty  of  having  you  in 
my  van,  to  strike  the  first  blow  ;  or  in  my  rear,  to  bring  me 
off  handsomely." 

"  You  would  be  afraid  of  nothing,  Gervaise  Oakes, 
whether  I  stood  at  your  elbow,  or  were  off  in  Scotland. 
Fear  is  not  your  failing,  though  temerity  may  be." 

"  Then  I  want  your  presence  to  keep  me  \vithin  the 
bounds  of  reason,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  stopping  short  in  his 
walk,  and  looking  his  friend  smilingly  in  the  face.  "  In 
some  mode,  or  other,  I  always  need  your  aid." 

"  I  understand  the  meaning  of  your  words,  Sir  Gervaise, 


86  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

and  appreciate  the  feeling  that  dictates  them.  You  must 
have  a  perfect  conviction  that  I  will  do  nothing  hastily, 
and  that  I  will  betray  no  trust.  When  I  turn  my  back  on 
King  George,  it  will  be  loyalty,  in  one  sense,  whatever  he 
may  think  of  it  in  another  ;  and  when  I  join  Prince  Charles 
Edward,  it  will  be  with  a  conscience  that  he  need  not  be 
ashamed  to  probe.  What  names  he  bears  !  They  are  the 
designations  of  ancient  English  sovereigns,  and  ought  of 
themselves  to  awaken  the  sensibilities  of  Englishmen." 

"  Aye,  Charles  in  particular,"  returned  the  Vice-ad 
miral,  with  something  like  a  sneer.  "  There's  the  second 
Charles,  for  instance — St.  Charles,  as  our  good  host,  Sir 
Wycherly,  might  call  him — he  is  a  pattern  prince  for 
Englishmen  to  admire.  Then  his  father  was  of  the  school 
of  the  Star-Chamber  martyrs  !  " 

"  Both  were  lineal  descendants  of  the  Conqueror,  and 
of  the  Saxon  princes  ;  and  both  united  the  double  titles 
to  the  throne,  in  their  sacred  persons.  I  have  always  con 
sidered  Charles  II.  as  the  victim  of  the  rebellious  conduct 
of  his  subjects,  rather  than  vicious.  He  was  driven  abroad 
into  a  most  corrupt  state  of  society,  and  wras  perverted  by 
our  wickedness.  As  to  the  father,  he  was  the  real  St. 
Charles,  and  a  martyred  saint  he  was  ;  dying  for  true  reli 
gion  as  well  as  for  his  legal  rights.  Then  the  Edwards — 
glorious  fellows  ! — remember  that  they  were  all  but  one 
Plantagenets  ;  a  name,  of  itself,  to  rouse  an  Englishman's 
fire!" 

"And  yet  the  only  difference  between  the  right  of  these 
very  Plantagenets  to  the  throne,  and  that  of  the  reigning 
prince,  is,  that  one  produced  a  revolution  by  the  strong 
hand,  and  the  other  was  produced  by  a  revolution  that 
came  from  a  nation.  I  do  not  know  that  your  Planta 
genets  ever  did  anything  for  a  navy,  the  only  real  source 

of  England's  power  and  glory.  D e,  Dick,  if  I  think 

so  much  of  your  Plantagenets,  after  all !  " 

"And  yet  the  name  of  Oakes  is  to  be  met  with  among 
their  bravest  knights,  and  most  faithful  followers." 

"The  Oakes,  like  the  pines,  have  been  timbers  in  every 
ship  that  has  floated,"  returned  the  Vice-admiral,  half- 
unconscious  himself  of  the  pun  he  was  making. 

For  more  than  a  minute  Sir  Gervaise  continued  his 
walk,  his  head  a  little  inclined  forward,  like  a  man  who 
pondered  deeply  on  some  matter  of  interest.  Then,  sud 
denly  stopping,  he  turned  toward  his  friend,  whom  he 


THE    TII'O  ADMIRALS.  87 

regarded  near  another  minute,  ere  he  resumed  his  dis 
course. 

"I  wish  I  could  fairly  get  you  to  exercise  your  excel 
lent  reason  on  this  matter,  Dick,"  he  said,  after  a  pause; 
"  then  I  should  be  certain  of  having  secured  you  on  the 
side  of  liberty." 

Admiral  Bluewater  merely  shook  his  head,  but  he  con 
tinued  silent,  as  if  he  deemed  discussion  altogether  super 
erogatory.  During  this  pause,  a  gentle  tap  at  the  door 
announced  a  visitor ;  and  at  the  request  to  enter,  Atwood 
made  his  appearance.  He  held  in  his  hand  a  large  pack 
age,  which  bore  on  the  envelope  the  usual  stamp  that  in 
dicated  it  \vas  sent  on  public  service. 

"I  beg  pardon,  Sir  Gervaise,"  commenced  the  secretary, 
wrho  always  proceeded  at  once  to  business  when  business 
was  to  be  done  ;  "but  his  Majesty's  service  will  not  admit 
of  delay.  This  packet  has  just  come  to  hand,  by  the  arrival 
of  an  express,  which  left  the  admiralty  yesterdaynoon." 

"And  how  the  devil  did  he  know  where  to  find  me !" 
exclaimed  the  Vice-admiral,  holding  out  a  hand  to  receive 
the  communication. 

"It  is  all  owing  to  this  young  lieutenant's  forethought 
in  following  up  the  Jacobite  intelligence  to  a  market-town. 
The  courier  was  bound  to  Falmouth,  as  fast  as  post-horses 
could  carry  him,  when  he  heard,  luckily,  that  the  fleet  lay 
at  anchor  under  Wychecombe  Head  ;  and  quite  as  luckily, 
lie  is  an  officer  who  had  the  intelligence  to  know  that  you 
would  sooner  get  the  dispatches  if  he  turned  aside  and 
came  here  by  land,  than  if  he  went  on  to  Falmouth,  got 
aboard  the  sloop  that  was  to  sail  with  him  for  the  Bay  of 
Biscay,  and  came  round  here  by  water." 

Sir  Gervaise  smiled  at  this  sally,  which  was  one  in 
keeping  with  all  Atwood's  feelings  ;  for  the  secretary  had 
matured  a  system  of  expresses  which,  to  his  great  mortifi 
cation,  his  patron  laughed  at,  and  the  admiralty  entirely 
overlooked.  No  time  was  lost,  however,  in  the  way  of 
business  ;  the  secretary  having  placed  the  candles  on  a 
table,  where  Sir  Gervaise  took  a  chair,  and  had  already 
broken  a  seal.  The  process  of  reading,  nevertheless,  was 
suddenly  interrupted  by  the  Vice-admiral's  looking  up, 
and  exclaiming  : 

"Why,  you  are  not  about  to  leave  us,  Bluewater  ?" 

"You  may  have  private  business  with  Mr.  Atwood,  Sir 
Gervaise,  and  perhaps  I  had  better  retire." 


88  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

Now,  it  so  happened  that  while  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  had 
never  by  look  or  syllable,  as  he  confidently  believed,  be 
trayed  the  secret  of  his  friend's  Jacobite  propensities,  At- 
\vood  was  perfectly  aware  of  their  existence.  Nor  had  the 
latter  obtained  his  knowledge  by  any  unworthy  means. 

He  had  been  neither  an  eavesdropper,  nor  an  inquirer 
into  private  communications,  as  so  often  happens  around 
the  persons  of  men  in  high  trusts  ;  all  his  knowledge  hav 
ing  been  obtained  through  native  sagacity  and  unavoid 
able  opportunities.  On  the  present  occasion,  the  secre 
tary,  with  the  tact  of  a  man  of  experience,  felt  that  his 
presence  might  be  dispensed  with ;  and  he  cut  short  the 
discussion  between  the  two  Admirals  by  a  very  timely  re 
mark  of  his  own. 

"  I  have  left  the  letters  uncopied,  Sir  Gervaise,"  he  said, 
"  and  will  go  and  finish  them.     A  message  by  Locker  "- 
this  was  Sir  Gervaise's  body-servant — "  will  bring  me  back 
at  a  moment's  notice,  should  you  need  me  again  to-night." 

"  That  Atwood  has  a  surprising  instinct  for  a  Scotch 
man  !  "  exclaimed  the  Vice-admiral,  as  soon  as  the  door  was 
closed  on  the  secretary.  "  He  not  only  knows  when  he  is 
wanted,  but  when  he  is  not  wanted.  The  last  is  an  extra 
ordinary  attainment  for  one  of  his  nation." 

"  And  one  that  an  Englishman  may  do  well  to  emulate," 
returned  Bluewater.  "  It  is  possible  my  company  may  be 
dispensed  with,  also,  just  at  this  important  moment." 

"  You  are  not  so  much  afraid  of  the  Hanoverians,  Dick, 
as  to  run  away  from  their  handwriting,  are  ye  ?  Ha — 
what's  this  ?  As  I  live,  a  packet  for  yourself,  and  directed 
to  'Rear-admiral  Sir  Richard  Bluewater,  K.  B.'  By  the 
Lord,  my  old  boy,  they've  given  you  the  red  ribbon  at  last ! 
This  is  an  honor  well  earned,  and  which  may  be  fitly 
worn." 

"  'Tis  rather  unexpected,  I  must  own.  The  letter,  how 
ever,  cannot  be  addressed  to  me,  as  I  am  not  a  Knight  of 
the  Bath." 

"  This  is  rank  nonsense.  Open  the  packet  at  once,  or  I 
will  do  it  for  you.  Are  there  two  Dick  Bluewaters  in  the 
world,  or  another  rear-admiral  of  the  same  name  ?" 

"  I  would  rather  not  receive  a  letter  that  does  not  strictly 
bear  my  address,"  returned  the  other  coldly. 

"As  I'll  be  sworn,  this  does.  But  hand  it  to  me,  since 
you  are  so  scrupulous,  and  I  will  do  that  small  service  for 
you." 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  89 

As  this  was  said,  Sir  Gervaise  tore  aside  the  seals,  and, 
as  he  proceeded  rather  summarily,  a  red  ribbon  was  soon 
uncased  and  fell  upon  the  carpet.  The  other  usual  insig 
nia  of  the  Bath  made  their  appearance,  and  a  letter  was 
found  among  them,  to  explain  the  meaning  of  all.  Every 
thing  was  in  due  form,  and  went  to  acquaint  Rear-admiral 
Bluewater  that  his  Majesty  had  been  graciously  pleased  to 
confer  on  him  one  of  the  vacant  red  ribbons  of  the  day,  as 
a  reward  for  his  eminent  services  on  different  occasions. 
There  was  even  a  short  communication  from  the  premier, 
expressing  the  great  satisfaction  of  the  ministry  in  thus 
being  able  to  second  the  royal  good  pleasure,  with  hearty 
good-will. 

"Well, what  do  you  think  of  that,  Richard  Bluewater?" 
asked  Sir  Gervaise,  triumphantly.  "  Did  I  not  always  tell 
you  that,  sooner  or  later,  it  must  come?" 

"  It  has  come  too  late,  then,"  coldly  returned  the  other, 
laying  the  ribbon,  jewels,  and  letters,  quietly  on  the  table. 
"  This  is  an  honor  I  can  receive,  now,  only  from  my  right 
ful  prince.  None  other  can  legally  create  a  knight  of  the 
Bath." 

"And  pray,  Mr.  Richard  Bluewater,  who  made  you  a 
captain,  a  commander,  a  rear-admiral  ?  Do  you  believe  me 
an  impostor,  because  I  wear  this  ribbon,  on  authority  no 
better  than  that  of  the  house  of  Hanover  ?  Am  I,  or  am  I 
not,  in  your  judgment,  a  vice-admiral  of  the  red?" 

"  I  make  a  great  distinction,  Oakes,  between  rank  in  the 
navy  and  mere  personal  dignity.  In  the  one  case,  you 
serve  your  country,  and  give  quite  as  much  as  you  receive; 
whereas,  in  the  other,  it  is  a  grace  to  confer  consideration 
on  the  person  honored,  without  such  an  equivalent  as  can 
find  an  apology  for  accepting  a  rank  illegally  conferred." 

"The  devil  take  your  distinctions,  which  would  unsettle 
everything,  and  render  the  service  a  Babel.  If  I  am  a 
vice-admiral  of  the  red,  I  am  a  knight  of  the  bath  ;  and  if 
you  are  rear-admiral  of  the  white,  you  are  also  a  knight  of 
that  honorable  order.  All  comes  from  the  same  source  of 
authority,  and  from  the  same  fountain  of  honor." 

"  I  do  not  view  it  thus.  Our  commissions  are  from  the 
admiralty,  which  represents  the  country ;  but  dignities 
come  from  the  prince  who  happens  to  reign,  let  his  title 
be  what  it  may." 

"Do  you  happen  to  think  Richard  III.  a  usurper,  or  a 
lawful  prince  ? " 


90  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"A  usurper,  out  of  all  question  ;  and  a  murderer  to  boot. 
His  name  should  be  struck  from  the  list  of  English  kings. 
I  never  hear  it  without  execrating  him  and  his  deeds." 

"  Pooh,  pooh,  Dick,  this  is  talking  more  like  a  poet  than 
a  seaman.  If  only  one-half  of  the  sovereigns  who  deserve 
to  be  execrated  had  their  names  erased,  the  list  of  even 
our  English  kings  would  be  rather  short,  and  some  coun 
tries  would  be  without  any  historical  kings  at  all.  How 
ever  much  Richard  III.  may  deserve  cashiering  in  this 
summary  manner,  his  peers  and  laws  are  just  as  good  as 
any  other  prince's  peers  and  laws.  Witness  the  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  for  instance." 

"Ay,  that  cannot  be  helped  by  me  ;  but  it  is  in  my 
power  to  prevent  Richard  Bluewater's  being  made  a 
knight  of  the  Bath  by  George  II.;  and  the  power  shall  be 
used." 

"  It  would  seem  not,  as  he  is  already  created  ;  and  I  dare 
say,  gazetted." 

"The  oaths  are  not  yet  taken,  and  it  is,  at  least,  an 
Englishman's  birthright  to  decline  an  honor  ;  if,  indeed, 
this  can  be  esteemed  an  honor,  at  all." 

"  Upon  my  word,  Rear-admiral  Sir  Richard  Bluewater, 
you  are  disposed  to  be  complimentary  to-night  !  The  un 
worthy  knight  present,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  order,  are 
infinitely  indebted  to  you  !  " 

"Your  case  and  mine,  Oakes,  are  essentially  different," 
returned  the  other,  with  some  emotions  in  his  voice  and 
manner.  "Your  ribbon  was  fairly  won,  fighting  the  bat 
tles  of  England,  and  can  be  worn  with  credit  to  yourself 
and  to  your  country  :  but  those  baubles  are  sent  to  me,  at 
a  moment  when  a  rising  was  foreseen,  and  as  a  sop  to  keep 
me  in  good  humor,  as  well  as  to  propitiate  the  whole 
Bluewater  interest." 

"That  is  pure  conjecture,  and  I  dare  say  will  prove  to 
be  altogether  a  mistake.  Here  are  the  dispatches  to  speak 
for  themselves  ;  and  as  it  is  scarcely  possible  that  the  min 
istry  should  have  known  of  this  rash  movement  of  the 
Pretender's  son,  more  than  a  few  days,  my  life  on  it,  the 
dates  will  show  that  your  ribbon  was  bestowed  before  the 
enterprise  was  even  suspected." 

As  Sir  Gervaise  commenced,  with  his  constitutional  ar 
dor,  to  turn  over  the  letters,  as  soon  as  his  mind  was  di 
rected  to  this  particular  object,  Admiral  Bluewater  resumed 
his  seat,  awaiting  the  result,  with  not  a  little  curiosity  ; 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  91 

though  at  the  same  time,  with  a  smile  of  incredulity.  The 
examination  disappointed  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes.  The  dates 
proved  that  the  ministers  were  better  informed  than  he 
had  supposed  ;  for  it  appeared  they  had  been  apprised 
about  the  time  he  was  himself  of  the  intended  movement. 
His  orders  were  to  bring  the  fleet  north,  and  in  substance 
to  do  the  very  thing  his  own  sagacity  had  dictated.  So  far 
everything  was  well ;  and  he  could  not  entertain  a  doubt 
about  receiving  the  hearty  approbation  of  his  superiors,  for 
the  course  he  had  taken.  But  here  his  gratification  ended  ; 
for,  on  looking  at  the  dates  of  the  different  communica 
tions,  it  was  evident  that  the  red  ribbon  was  bestowed 
after  the  intelligence  of  the  Pretender's  movement  had 
reached  London.  A  private  letter,  from  a  friend  at  the 
Board  of  Admiralty,  too,  spoke  of  his  own  probable  pro 
motion  to  the  rank  of  admiral  of  the  blue  ;  and  mentioned 
several  other  similar  preferments,  in  a  way  to  show  that 
the  government  was  fortifying  itself,  in  the  present  crisis, 
as  much  as  possible,  by  favors.  This  was  a  polite  mode  of 
procedure  with  ordinary  men,  it  is  true  ;  but  with  offi 
cers  of  the  elevation  of  mind,  and  of  the  independence  of 
character  of  our  two  admirals,  it  was  most  likely  to  pro 
duce  disgust. 

"D n 'em,  Dick,"  cried  Sir  Gervaise,  as  he  threw 

down  the  last  letter  of  the  package  with  no  little  sign  of 
feeling  ;  "you  might  take  St.  Paul,  or  even  Wychecombe's 
dead  brother,  St.  James,  the  Less,  and  put  him  at  court,  and 
he  would  come  out  as  thorough  a  blackguard,  in  a  week ! " 

"That  is  not  the  common  opinion  concerning  a  court 
education,"  quietly  replied  the  friend  ;  "  most  people  fancy 
that  the  place  gives  refinement  of  manners,  if  not  of  senti 
ment." 

"  Pooh — pooh — you  and  I  have  no  need  of  a  dictionary  to 
understand  each  other.  I  call  a  man  who  never  trusts  to  a 
generous  motive — who  thinks  it  always  necessary  to  bribe 
or  cajole — who  has  no  idea  of  any  thing's  being  done  with 
out  its  direct  quid  pro  quo,  a  scurvy  blackguard,  though  he 
has  the  air  and  graces  of  Phil.  Stanhope,  or  Chesterfield, 
as  he  is  now.  What  do  you  think  those  chaps  at  the 
Board  talk  of  doing,  by  way  of  clinching  my  loyalty,  at 
this  blessed  juncture  ? " 

"  No  doubt  to  get  you  raised  to  the  peerage.  I  see 
nothing  so  much  out  of  the  way  in  the  thing.  You  are  one 
of  the  oldest  families  in  England,  and  the  sixth  Baronet 


92  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

by  inheritance,  and  have  a  noble  landed  estate,  which  is 
none  the  worse  for  prize  money.  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  of 
Bowldero  would  make  a  very  suitable  Lord  Bowldero." 

"  If  it  were  only  that,  I  shouldn't  mind  it  ;  for  nothing  is 
easier  than  to  refuse  a  peerage.  I've  done  that  twice  al 
ready,  and  can  do  it  a  third  time,  at  need.  But  one  can't 
very  well  refuse  promotion  in  his  regular  profession  ;  and 
here,  just  as  a  true  gentleman  would  depend  upon  the 
principles  of  an  officer,  the  hackneyed  consciences  of  your 
courtiers  have  suggested  the  expediency  of  making  Ger 
vaise  Oakes  an  Admiral  of  the  blue,  by  way  of  sop  !  me, 
who  was  made  Vice-admiral  of  the  red  only  six  months 
since,  and  who  takes  an  honest  pride  in  boasting  that  every 
commission,  from  the  lowest  to  the  highest,  has  been  fairly 
earned  in  battle  !  " 

"  They  think  it  a  more  delicate  service,  perhaps,  for  a 
gentleman  to  be  true  to  the  reigning  house,  when  so  loud 
an  appeal  is  made  to  his  natural  loyalty  ;  and,  therefore, 
class  the  self-conquest  with  a  victory  at  sea!  " 

"  They  are  so  many  court-lubbers  ;  and  I  should  like  to 
have  an  opportunity  of  speaking  my  mind  to  them.  I'll 
not  take  the  new  commission  ;  for  every  one  must  see, 
Dick,  that  it  is  a  sop." 

"  Ay,  that's  just  my  notion,  too,  about  the  red  ribbon, 
and  I'll  not  take  that.  You  have  had  the  ribbon  these  ten 
years,  have  declined  the  peerage  twice,  and  their  only 
chance  is  the  promotion.  Take  it  you  ought,  and  must, 
however,  as  it  will  be  the  means  of  pushing  on  some  four 
or  five  poor  devils,  who  have  been  wedged  up  to  honors  in 
this  manner,  ever  since  they  were  captains.  I  am  glad 
they  do  not  talk  of  promoting  me,  for  I  should  hardly 
know  how  to  refuse  such  a  grace.  There  is  great  virtue  in 
parchment,  with  all  of  us  military  men." 

"  Still  it  must  be  parchment  fairly  won.  I  think  you  are 
wrong,  notwithstanding,  Bluewater,  in  talking  of  refusing 
the  ribbon,  which  is  so  justly  your  due,  for  a  dozen  differ 
ent  acts.  There  is  not  a  man  in  the  service  who  has  been 
less  rewarded  for  what  he  has  done,  than  yourself." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  hear  you  give  this  as  your  opinion  ;  for 
just  at  this  moment,  I  would  rather  think  that  I  have  no 
cause  of  complaint,  in  this  way,  against  the  reigning  family, 
or  its  ministers.  I'm  sure  I  was  posted  when  quite  a  young 
man,  and  since  that  time,  no  one  has  been  lifted  over  my 
head." 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  93 

The  Vice-admiral  looked  intently  at  his  friend,  for  never 
before  had  he  detected  a  feeling  which  betrayed,  as  he 
fancied,  so  settled  a  determination  in  him  to  quit  the  ser 
vice  of  the  powers  that  were.  Acquainted  from  boyhood 
with  all  the  workings  of  the  other's  mind,  he  perceived  that 
the  Rear-admiral  had  been  endeavoring  to  persuade  him 
self  that  no  selfish  or  unworthy  motive  could  be  assigned 
to  an  act  which  he  felt  to  proceed  from  disinterested 
chivalry,  just  as  he  himself  broke  out  with  his  expression 
of  an  opinion  that  no  officer  had  "been  less  liberally  re 
warded  for  his  professional  service  than  his  friend.  While 
there  is  no  greater  mystery  to  a  selfish  manager  than  a 
man  of  disinterested  temperament,  they  who  feel  and  sub 
mit  to  generous  impulses  understand  each  other  with  an 
instinctive  facility.  When  any  particular  individual  is 
prone  to  believe  that  there  is  a  predominance  of  good  over 
evil  in  the  world  he  inhabits,  it  is  a  sign  of  inexperience, 
or  imbecility  ;  but  when  one  acts  and  reasons  as  if  all 
honor  and  virtue  are  extinct,  he  furnishes  the  best  possible 
argument  against  his  own  tendencies  and  character.  It 
has  often  been  remarked  that  stronger  friendships  are 
made  between  those  who  have  different  personal  peculiar 
ities,  than  between  those  whose  sameness  of  feeling  and 
impulses  would  be  less  likely  to  keep  interest  alive  ;  but, 
in  all  cases  of  intimacies,  there  must  be  great  identity  of 
principles,  and  even  of  tastes  in  matters  at  all  connected 
with  motives,  in  order  to  insure  respect  among  those  whose 
standard  of  opinion  is  higher  than  common,  or  sympathy 
among  those  with  whom  it  is  lower. 

Such  was  the  fact,  as  respected  Admiral  Oakes  and 
Bluewater.  No  tw^o  men  could  be  less  alike  in  tempera 
ment,  or  character,  physically,  and  in  some  senses,  morally 
considered  ;  but,  when  it  came  to  principles,  or  all  those 
tastes  or  feelings  that  are  allied  to  principles,  there  was  a 
strong  native,  as  well  as  acquired  affinity.  This  union  of 
sentiment  was  increased  by  common  habits,  and  profes 
sional  careers  so  long  and  so  closely  united  as  to  be  almost 
identical.  Nothing  was  easier,  consequently,  than  for  Sir 
Gervaise  Oakes  to  comprehend  the  workings  of  Admiral 
Bluewater's  mind,  as  the  latter  endeavored  to  believe  he 
had  been  fairly  treated  by  the  existing  government.  Of 
course,  the  reasoning  which  passed  through  the  thoughts 
of  Sir  Gervaise,  on  this  occasion,  required  much  less  time 
than  we  have  taken  to  explain  its  nature  ;  and,  after  regard- 


94  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

ing  his  friend  intently,  as  already  related,  for  a  few  seconds, 
he  answered  as  follows,  a  good  deal  influenced,  unwit 
tingly  to  himself  with  the  wish  to  check  the  other's  Jacobite 
propensities. 

"  I  am  sorry  not  to  be  able  to  agree  with  you,  Dick,"  he 
said,  with  some  warmth.  "So  far  from  thinking  you  wrell 
treated,  by  any  ministry,  these  twenty  years,  I  think  you 
have  been  very  ill  treated.  Your  rank  you  have,  beyond 
a  question  ;  for  of  that  no  brave  officer  can  well  be  de 
prived  in  a  regulated  service  ;  but,  have  you  had  the  com 
mands  to  which  you  are  entitled  ?  I  was  a  commander-in- 
chief  when  only  a  rear-admiral  of  the  blue,  and  then 
how  long  did  I  wear  a  broad  pennant,  before  I  got  a  flag 
at  all!"' 

"  You  forget  how  much  I  have  been  with  you.  When 
two  serve  together,  one  must  command  and  the  other 
must  obey.  So  far  from  complaining  of  these  Hanoverian 
Boards,  and  First  Lords,  it  seems  to  me  that  they  have 
always  kept  in  view  the  hollowness  of  their  claims  to  the 
throne,  and  have  felt  a  desire  to  purchase  honest  men  by 
their  favors." 

"You  are  the  strangest  fellow,  Dick  Bluewater,  it  has 

ever  been  my  lot  to  fall  in  with.  D e  me,  if  I  believe 

you  know  always  when  you  are  ill  treated.  There  are  a 
dozen  men  in  the  service,  who  have  had  separate  com 
mands,  and  who  are  not  half  as  well  entitled  to  them  as 
you  are  yourself." 

"  Come,  come,  Oakes,  this  is  getting  to  be  puerile,  for 
two  old  fellows,  turned  of  fifty.  You  very  well  know  that 
I  was  offered  just  as  good  a  fleet  as  this  of  your  own, 
with  a  choice  of  the  whole  list  of  flag-officers  below  me  to 
pick  a  junior  from  ;  and  so  we'll  say  no  more  about  it.  As 
respects  their  red  ribbon,  however,  it  may  go  a-begging 
for  me." 

Sir  Gervaise  was  about  to  answer  in  his  former  vein, 
when  a  tap  at  the  door  announced  the  presence  of  another 
visitor.  This  time  the  door  opened  on  the  person  of 
Galleygo,  who  had  been  included  in  Sir  Wycherly's  hospit 
able  plan  of  entertaining  every  soul  who  immediately  be 
longed  to  the  suite  of  Sir  Gervaise. 

"  What  the  d 1  has  brought  you  here  !"  exclaimed  the 

Vice-admiral,  a  little  warmly  ;  for  he  did  not  relish  an  in 
terruption  just  at  that  moment.  "  Recollect  you're  not  on 
board  the  Plantagenet,  but  in  the  dwelling  of  a  gentle- 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  95 

man,  where  there  are  both  butler  and  housekeeper,  and 
who  have  no  occasion  for  your  advice,  or  authority,  to  keep 
things  in  order." 

"Well,  there,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  doesn't  agree  with  you  the 
least  bit ;  for  I  thinks  as  a  ship's  steward — I  mean  a  cabin 
steward,  and  a  good  'un  of  the  quality — might  do  a  great 
deal  of  improvement  in  this  very  house.  The  cook  and  I 
has  had  a  partic'lar  dialogue  on  them  matters,  already  ; 
and  I  mentioned  to  her  the  names  of  seven  different  dishes, 
every  one  of  which  she  quite  as  good  as  admitted  to  me 
was  just  the  same  as  so  much  gospel  to  her." 

"  I  shall  have  to  quarantine  this  fellow,  in  the  long  run, 
Biuewater  !  I  do  believe  if  I  were  to  take  him  to  Lam 
beth  Palace,  or  even  to  St.  James's,  he'd  thrust  his  oar 
into  the  archbishop's  benedictions,  or  the  queen's  caudle 
cup !  " 

"Well,  Sir  Gervaise,  where  would  be  the  great  harm  if 
I  did  ?  A  man  as  knows  the  use  of  an  oar  can  be  trusted 
with  one,  even  in  a  church,  or  an  abbey.  When  your 
honor  comes  to  hear  what  the  dishes  were,  as  Sir 
Wycherly's  cook  had  never  heard  on,  you'll  think  it  as 
great  a  cur'osity  as  I  do  myself.  If  I  had  just  leave  to 
name  'em  over,  I  think  as  both  you  gentlemen  would  look 
at  it  as  remarkable." 

"  What  are  they,  Galleygo  ? "  inquired  Biuewater,  put 
ting  one  of  his  long  legs  over  the  arm  of  an  adjoining 
chair,  in  order  to  indulge  himself  in  a  yarn  with  his 
friend's  steward,  with  greater  freedom  ;  for  he  greatly  de 
lighted  in  Galleygo' s  peculiarities  ;  seeing  just  enough  of 
the  fellow  to  find  amusement,  without  annoyance  in  them. 
"  I'll  answer  for  Sir  Gervaise,  who  is  always  a  little  diffident 
about  boasting  of  the  superiority  of  a  ship,  over  a  house." 

"Yes,  your  honor,  that  he  is — that  is  just  one  of  Sir 
Jarvy's  weak  p'ints,  as  a  body  might  say.  Now,  I  never 
goes  ashore,  without  trimming  sharp  up,  and  luffing 
athwart  every  person's  hawse  I  fall  in  with  ;  which  is  as 
much  as  to  tell  'em  I  belongs  to  a  flag-ship,  and  a  racer, 
and  a  craft  as  hasn't  her  equal  on  salt  water  ;  no  disparage 
ment  to  the  bit  of  bunting  at  the  mizzen-top-gallant-mast- 
head  of  the  Caesar,  or  to  the  ship  that  carries  it.  I  hopes, 
as  we  are  so  well  acquainted,  Admiral  Biuewater,  no  offense 
will  be  taken." 

"When  none  is  meant,  none  ought  to  be  taken,  my 
friend.  Now  let  us  hear  your  bill-of-fare." 


96  7Y/£'77F<9   ADMIRALS. 

"Well,  sir,  the  very  first  dish  I  mentioned  to  Mrs. 
Larder,  Sir  Wycherly's  cook,  was  lobscouse  ;  and,  would 
you  believe  it,  gentlemen,  the  poor  woman  had  never  heard 
of  it !  I  began  with  a  light  hand,  as  it  might  be,  just  not 
to  overwhelm  her  with  knowledge,  at  a  blow,  as  Sir  Jarvy 
captivated  the  French  frigate  with  the  upper  tier  of  guns, 
that  he  might  take  her  alive,  like." 

"And  the  lady  knew  nothing  of  a  lobscouse — neither  of 
its  essence,  or  nature  ?" 

"There's  no  essences  as  is  ever  put  in  a  lobscouse,  be 
sides  potaties,  Admiral  Bluewater ;  tho'  we  make  'em  in 
tiie  old  Planter" — nauticeior  Plantagenet — "  in  so  liquorish 
a  fashion,  you  might  well  think  they  even  had  Jamaiky  in 
'em.  No,  potaties  is  the  essence  of  lobscouse  ;  and  a  very 
good  thing  is  a  potatie,  Sir  Jarvy,  when  a  ship's  company 
has  been  on  salted  oakum  for  a  few  months." 

"Well,  what  was  the  next  dish  the  good  woman  broke 
down  under?"  asked  the  Rear-admiral,  fearful  the  master 
might  order  the  servant  to  quit  the  room  ;  while  he,  himself, 
was  anxious  to  get  rid  of  any  farther  political  discussion. 

"Well,  sir,  she  knowed  no  more  of  a  chowder,  than  if 
the  sea  weren't  in  the  neighborhood,  and  there  weren't  such 
a  thing  as  a  fish  in  all  England.  When  I  talked  to  her  of 
a  chowder,  she  gave  in,  like  a  Spaniard  at  the  fourth  or 
fifth  broadside." 

"  Such  ignorance  is  disgraceful,  and  betokens  a  decline 
in  civilization  !  But  you  hoisted  out  more  knowledge  for 
her  benefit,  Galleygo — snfall  doses  of  learning  are  poor 
things." 

"Yes,  your  honor;  just  like  weak  grog — burning  the 
priming,  without  starting  the  shot.  To  be  sure  I  did, 
Admiral  Blue.  I  just  named  to  her  burgoo,  and  then  I 
mentioned  duff  (Anglice  dough)  to  her,  but  she  denied  that 
there  was  any  such  things  in  the  cookery-book.  Do  you 
know,  Sir  Jarvy,  as  these  here  shore  craft  get  their  dinners 
as  our  master  gets  the  sun  ;  all  out  of  a  book  as  it  might, 
be.  Awful  tidings,  too,  gentlemen,  about  the  Pretender's 
son  ;  and  I  s'pose  we  shall  have  to  take  the  fleet  up  into 
Scotland,  as  I  fancy  them  'ere  sogers  will  not  make  much 
of  a  hand  in  settling  law  ?" 

"And  have  you  honored  us  with  a  visit,  just  to  give  us 
an  essay  on  dishes,  and  to  tell  us  what  you  intend  to  do 
with  the  fleet?"  demanded  Sir  Gervaise,  a  little  more 
sternly  than  he  was  accustomed  to  speak  to  the  steward. 


THE    TWO  ADAMWI&-  97 

\/V 

"Lord  bless  you,  Sir  Jarvy,  I  didn't  dream  of  one  or 
t'other!  As  for  telling  you  or  Admiral  Blue  (so  the  sea 
men  used  to  call  the  second  in  rank),  here,  anything  about 
lobscouse,  or  chowder,  why,  it  would  be  carrying  coals  to 
New  Market  I've  fed  you  both  with  all  such  articles, 
when  ye  was  nothing  but  young  gentlemen  ;  and  when  you 
was  no  longer  young  gentlemen,  too,  but  a  couple  of 
sprightly  luffs,  of  nineteen.  And  as  for  moving  the  fleet, 
I  know  well  enough  that  will  never  happen,  without  our 
talking  it  over  in  the  old  Planter's  cabin  ;  which  is  a  much 
more  nat'ral  place  for  such  a  discourse,  than  any  house  in 
England !  " 

"  May  I  take  the  liberty  of  inquiring,  then,  what  did 
bring  you  here?"  • 

"  That  you  may,  with  all  my  heart,  Sir  Jarvy,  for  I  likes 
to  answer  your  questions.  My  errand  is  not  to  your  honor 
this  time,  though  you  are  my  master.  It's  no  great  matter, 
after  all,  being  just  to  hartH  this  bit  of  a  letter  over  to 
Admiral  Blue." 

"  And  where  did  this  letter  come  from,  and  how  did  it 
fall  into  your  hands ! "  demanded  Bluewater,  looking  at 
the  superscription,  the  writing  of  which  he  seemed  to 
recognize. 

"It  hails  from  Lun'nun,  I  hear,  and  they  tell  me  it's  to 
be  a  great  secret  that  you've  got  it,  at  all.  The  history  of 
the  matter  is  just  this.  An  officer  got  in  to-night,  with 
orders  for  us,  carrying  sail  as  hard  as  his  shay  would  bear. 
It  seems  he  fell  in  with  Master  Atwood,  as  he  made  his 
land-fall,  and  being  acquainted  with  that  gentleman,  he  just 
whipped  out  his  orders,  and  sent  'em  off  to  the  right  man. 
Then  he  laid  his  course  for  the  landing,  wishing  to  get 
aboard  of  the  Dublin,  to  which  he  is  ordered  ;  but  falling 
in  with  our  barge,  as  I  landed,  he  wanted  to  know  the 
where-away  of  Admiral  Blue,  here  ;  believing  him  to  be 
afloat.  Some  'tin  telling  him  as  I  was  a  friend  and  servant 
of  both  admirals,  as  it  might  be,  he  turned  himself  over  to 
me  for  advice.  So  I  promised  to  deliver  the  letter,  as  I 
had  a  thousand  afore,  and  knowed  the  way  of  doing 
such  things  ;  and  he  gives  me  the  letter,  under  special 
orders,  like  ;  that  is  to  say,  it  was  to  be  handed  to  the  Rear- 
admiral  as  it  might  be  under  the  lee  of  the  mizzen-stay- 
sail,  or  in  a  private  fashion.  Well,  gentlemen,  you  both 
knows  I  understand  that,  too,  and  so  I  undertook  the 
job." 


98  TffK    77F0   ADMIRALS. 

"  And  I  have  got  to  be  so  insignificant  a  person  that  I 
pass  for  no  one,  in  your  discriminating  mind,  Master 
Galleygo  ! "  exclaimed  the  Vice-admiral,  sharply.  "  I 
have  suspected  as  much,  these  five-and-twenty  years." 

"  Lord  bless  you,  Sir  Jarvy,  how  flag-officers  will  make 
mistakes  sometimes  !  They're  mortal,  I  says  to  the  people 
of  the  galley,  and  have  their  appetites  false,  just  like  a 
young  gentlemen,  when  they  get  athwart-hawse  of  a 
body,  I  says.  Now,  I  count  Admiral  Blue  and  yourself 
pretty  much  as  one  man,  seeing  that  you  keep  few  or  no 
secrets  from  each  other.  I  know'd  ye  both  as  young  gentle 
men,  and  then  you  loved  one  another  like  twins  ;  and 
then  I  know'd  ye  as  luffs,  when  ye'd  walk  the  deck  the 
whole  watcbj  spinning  yarns  ;  and  then  I  know'd  ye  as 
Pillardees  and  Arrestee,  though  one  pillow  might  have 
answered  for  both  ;  and  as  for  Arrest,  I  never  know'd 
either  of  ye.  to  get  into  that  scrape.  As  for  telling  a 
secret  to  one,  I've  always  looked  upon  it  as  pretty  much 
tilling  it  to  t'other." 

The  two  Admirals  exchanged  glances,  and  the  look  of 
kindness  that  each  met  in  the  eyes  of  his  friend  removed 
every  shadow  that  had  been  cast  athwart  their  feelings  by 
the  previous  discourse. 

"  That  will  do,  Galleygo,"  returned  Sir  Gervaise,  mildly. 
"  You're  a  good  fellow  in  the  main,  though  a  villainously 
rough  one " 

"A  little  of  old  Boreus,  Sir  Jarvy,"  interrupted  the 
steward,  with  a  grim  smile  ;  "  but  it  blows  harder  at  sea 
than  it  does  ashore.  These  chaps  on  land  aren't  battened 
down,  and  caulked  for  such  weather,  as  we  sons  of 
Neptun'  is  obligated  to  face." 

"  Quite  true,  and  so  good-night  Admiral  Bluewatcr 
and 'myself  wish  to  confer  together  for  half  an  hour;  all 
that  it  is  proper  for  you  to  know,  shall  be  communicated 
another  time." 

"  Good-night,  and  God  bless  your  honor.  Good-night, 
Admiral  Blue  :  we  three  is  the  men  as  can  keep  any 
secret  as  ever  floated,  let  it  draw  as  much  water  as  it 
pleases." 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  stopped  in  his  walk,  and  gazed  at 
his  friend  with  manifest  interest,  as  he  perceived  that 
Admiral  Bluewater  was  running  over  his  letter  for  the 
third  time.  Being  now  without  a  witness,  he  did  not  hesi 
tate  to  express  his  apprehensions. 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  99 

"Tis  as  I  feared,  Dick!"  he  cried.  "That  letter  is 
from  some  prominent  partisan  of  Edward  Stuart?" 

The  Rear-admiral  turned  his  eyes  on  the  face  of  his 
friend,  with  an  expression  that  was  difficult  to  read  ;  and 
then  he  ran  over  the  contents  of  the  epistle  for  the  fourth 
time. 

"  A  set  of  precious  rascals  they  are,  Gervaise  !  "  at  length 
the  Rear-admiral  exclaimed.  "  If  the  whole  court  was 
culled,  I  question  if  enough  honesty  could  be  found  to 
leaven  one  Puritan  scoundrel.  Tell  me  if  you  know 
this  hand,  Oakes  ?  I  question  if  you  ever  saw  it  before." 

The  superscription  of  the  letter  was  held  out  to  Sir 
Gervaise,  who,  after  a  close  examination,  declared  himself 
unacquainted  with  the  writing. 

"  I  thought  as  much,"  resumed  Bluewater,  carefully 
tearing  the  signature  from  the  bottom  of  the  page,  and 
burning  it  in  a  candle  ;  "  let  this  portion  of  the  secret  die, 
at  least.  The  fellow  who  wrote  this,  has  put  '  confidential ' 
at  the  head  of  his  miserable  scrawl  ;  and  a  most  confident 
fellow  he  is,  for  his  pains.  However,  no  man  has  a  right 
to  thrust  himself,  in  this  rude  manner,  between  me  and 
my  eldest  friend  ;  and  least  of  all  will  I  consent  to  keep  this 
piece  of  treachery  from  your  knowledge.  I  do  more  than 
the  rascal  merits  in  concealing  his  name  ;  nevertheless,  I 
shall  not  deny  myself  of  the  pleasure  of  sending  him  such 
an  answer  as  he  deserves.  Read  that,  Oakes,  and  then  say 
if  keelhauling  would  be  too  good  for  the  writer." 

Sir  Gervaise  took  the  letter  in  silence,  though  not  with 
out  great  surprise,  and  began  to  peruse  it.  As  he  pro 
ceeded,  the  color  mounted  to  his  temples,  and  once  he 
dropped  his  hand,  to  cast  a  look  of  wonder  and  indigna 
tion  toward  his  companion.  That  the  reader  may  see  how 
much  occasion  there  was  for  both  these  feelings,  we  shall 
give  the  communication  entire.  It  was  couched  in  the 
following  words  : 

O 

"  DEAR  ADMIRAL  BLUEWATER  :  Our  ancient  friendship, 
and,  I  am  proud  to  add,  affinity  of  blood,  unite  in  induc 
ing  me  to  write  a  line,  at  this  interesting  moment.  Of 
the  result  of  this  rash  experiment  of  the  Pretender's  son, 
no  prudent  man  can  entertain  a  doubt.  Still,  the  boy 
may  give  us  trouble,  before  he  is  disposed  of  altogether. 
We  look  to  our  friends,  therefore,  for  their  most  efficient 
exertions,  and  most  prudent  co-operation.  On  you,  every 


ioo  THE    7'irO   ADMIRALS. 

reliance  is  placed ;  and  I  wish  I  could  say  as  much  for 
every  flag-officer  afloat.  Some  distrust — unmerited,  I  sin 
cerely  hope — exists  in  a  very  high  quarter,  touching  the 
loyalty  of  a  certain  commander-in-chief,  who  is  so  com 
pletely  under  your  observation,  that  it  is  felt  enough  is 
done  in  hinting  the  fact  to  one  of  your  political  tendencies. 
The  king  said,  this  morning,  '  Veil,  dere  isht  Bluevater ; 
of  him  we  are  shure  as  of  ter  sun.'  You  stand  excellently 
well  there,  to  my  great  delight ;  and  I  need  only  say,  be 
watchful  and  prompt. 

"Yours  with  the  most  sincere  faith  and  attachment,  my 
dear  Bluewater,  etc.,  etc. 

"  Rear -Admiral  Bluewater. 

"P.  S. — I  have  just  heard  that  they  have  sent  you  the 
red  ribbon.  The  king  himself  was  in  this." 

When  Sir  Gervaise  had  perused  this  precious  epistle  to 
himself,  he  read  it  slowly,  and  in  a  steady,  clear  voice, 
aloud.  When  he  had  ended,  he  dropped  the  paper,  and 
stood  gazing  at  his  friend. 

"  One  would  think  the  fellow  some  exquisite  satirist," 
said  Bluewater,  laughing,  "/am  to  be  vigilant,  and  see 
that  you  do  not  mutiny,  and  run  away  with  the  fleet  to 
the  Highlands,  one  of  these  foggy  mornings  !  Carry  it 
up  into  Scotland,  as  Galleygo  has  it !  Now,  what  is  your 
opinion  of  that  letter  ? " 

"  That  all  courtiers  are  knaves,  and  all  princes  ungrate 
ful.  I  should  think  my  loyalty  to  the  good  cause,  if  not 
to  the  man,  the  last  in  England  to  be  suspected." 

"  Nor  is  it -suspected,  in  the  smallest  degree.  My  life  on 
it,  neither  the  reigning  monarch,  nor  his  confidential  ser 
vants,  are  such  arrant  dunces  as  to  be  guilty  of  so  much 
weakness.  No,  his  masterly  move  is  intended  to  secure 
me,  by  creating  a  confidence  that  they  think  no  generous- 
minded  man  would  betray.  It  is  a  hook,  delicately  baited 
to  catch  a  gudgeon,  and  not  an  order  to  watch  a  whale." 

"Can  the  scoundrels  be  so  mean — nay,  dare  they  be  so 
bold !  They  must  have  known  you  would  show  me  the 
letter." 

"  Not  they — they  have  reasoned  on  my  course,  as  they 
would  on  their  own.  Nothing  catches  a  weak  man  sooner 
than  a  pretended  confidence  of  this  nature  ;  and  I  dare  say 
this  blackguard  rates  me  just  high  enough  to  fancy  I  may 
be  duped  in  this  flimsy  manner.  Put  your  mind  at  rest; 


7Y//:    7'JJ'O   ADMIRALS.  101 

King  George  knows  he  may  confide  in  you,  while  I  think 
it  probable  I  am  distrusted." 

"  I  hope,  Dick,  you  do  not  suspect  my  discretion  !  My 
own  secret  would  not  be  half  so  sacred  to  me." 

"  I  know  that  full  well.  Of  you,  I  entertain  no  distrust 
either  in  heart  or  head  ;  of  myself,  I  am  not  quite  so 
certain.  When  we  feel,  we  do  not  always  reason  ;  and 
there  is  as  much  feeling  as  anything  else,  in  this  matter." 

"  Not  a  line  is  there,  in  all  my  dispatches,  that  goes  to 
betray  the  slightest  distrust  of  me,  or  any  one  else.  You 
are  spoken  of,  but  it  is  in  a  manner  to  gratify  you,  rather 
than  to  alarm.  Take,  and  read  them  all  ;  I  intended  to 
show  them  to  you,  as  soon  as  we  had  got  through  with  that 
cursed  discussion." 

As  Sir  Gervaise  concluded,  he  threw  the  whole  package 
of  letters  on  the  table,  before  his  friend. 

"  It  will  be  time  enough,  when  you  summon  me  regu 
larly  to  a  council  of  war,"  returned  Bluewater,  laying  the 
letters  gently  aside.  "  Perhaps  we  had  better  sleep  on  this 
affair  ;  in  the  morning  we  shall  meet  with  cooler  heads,  and 
just  as  warm  hearts." 

"  Good-night,  Dick,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  holding  out  both 
hands  for  the  other  to  shake  as  he  passed  him,  in  quitting 
the  room. 

"  Good-night,  Gervaise  ;  let  this  miserable  devil  go  over 
board,  and  think  no  more  of  him.  I  have  half  a  mind  to 
ask  you  for  a  leave,  to-morrow,  just  to  run  up  to  London, 
and  cut  off  his  ears." 

Sir  Gervaise  laughed  and  nodded  his  head,  and  the  two 
friends  parted,  with  feelings  as  kind  as  ever  had  distin 
guished  their  remarkable  career. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

WYCHECOMBE  HALL  had  most  of  the  peculiarities  of  a 
bachelor's  dwelling,  in  its  internal  government  ;  nor  was  it 
in  any  manner  behind,  or,  it  might  be  better  to  say,  before, 
the  age,  in  its  modes  and  customs  connected  with  jollifi 
cations.  When  its  master  relaxed  a  little,  the  servants 
quite  uniformly  imitated  his  example.  Sir  Wycherly  kept 
a  plentiful  table,  and  the  servants'  hall  fared  nearly  as  well 
as  the  dining-room  ;  the  single  article  of  wine  excepted.  In 


102  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

lieu  of  the  latter,  however,  was  an  unlimited  allowance  of 
double-brewed  ale  ;  and  the  difference  in  the  potations  was 
far  more  in  the  name  than  in  the  quality  of  the  beverages. 
The  master  drank  port  ;  for,  in  the  middle  of  the  last  cen 
tury,  few  Englishmen  had  better  wine — and  port,  too,  that 
was  by  no  means  of  a  very  remarkable  delicacy,  but  which, 
like  those  who  used  it,  was  rough,  honest,  and  strong  ; 
while  the  servant  had  his  malt  liquor  of  the  very  highest 
stamp  and  flavor.  Between  indifferent  wine  and  excellent 
ale,  the  distance  is  not  interminable  ;  and  Sir  Wycherly's 
household  wras  well  aware  of  the  fact,  having  frequently  in 
stituted  intelligent  practical  comparisons,  by  means  of 
which  all  but  the  butler  and  Mrs.  Larder  had  come  to  the 
conclusion  to  stand  by  the  home-brewed. 

On  the  present  occasion,  not  a  soul  in  the  house  was 
ignorant  of  the  reason  why  the  Baronet  was  making  a 
night  of  it.  Every  man,  woman,  and  child,  in  or  about  the 
hall  was  a  devoted  partisan  of  the  house  of  Hanover  ;  and 
as  soon  as  it  was  understood  that  this  feeling  was  to  be 
manifested  by  drinking  "  Success  to  King  George,  and 
GOD  bless  him,"  on  the  one  side  ;  and  "Confusion  to  the 
Pretender,  and  his  mad  son,"  on  the  other  ;  all  under  the 
roof  entered  in  the  duty,  with  a  zeal  that  might  have 
seated  a  usurper  on  a  throne,  if  potations  could  do  it. 

When  Admiral  Bluewater,  therefore,  left  the  chamber  of 
his  friend,  the  signs  of  mirth  and  of  a  regular  debauch 
were  so  very  obvious,  that  a  little  curiosity  to  watch  the 
result,  and  a  disinclination  to  go  off  to  his  ship  so  soon, 
united  to  induce  him  to  descend  into  the  rooms  below, 
with  a  view  to  get  a  more  accurate  knowledge  of  the  con 
dition  of  the  household.  In  crossing  the  great  hall,  to  enter 
the  drawing-room,  he  encountered  Galleygo,  when  the  fol 
lowing  discourse  took  place  : 

"I  should  think  the  master-at-arms  has  not  done  his 
duty,  and  doused  the  glim  below,  Master  Steward,"  said 
the  Rear-admiral,  in  his  quiet  way,  as  they  met ;  "  the 
laughing,  and  singing,  and  hiccupping  are  all  upon  a  very 
liberal  scale  for  a  respectable  country-house." 

Galleygo  touched  the  lock  of  hair  on  his  forehead,  with 
one  hand,  and  gave  his  trousers  a  slue  with  the  other, 
before  he  answered  ;  which  he  soon  did,  however,  though 
with  a  voice  a  little  thicker  than  \vas  usual  with  him,  on 
account  of  his  having  added  a  draught  or  two  to  those  he 
had  taken  previously  to  visiting  Sir  Gervaise's  dressing- 


77//-    TU'Q    ADMIRALS.  103 

room  ;  and  whicli  said  additional  draught  or  two  had  pro 
duced  some  such  effect  on  his  system  as  the  fresh  drop 
produces  on  the  cup  that  is  already  full. 

"That's  just  it,  Admiral  Blue,"  returned  the  steward,  in 
passing  good-humor,  though  still  sober  enough  to  maintain 
the  decencies,  after  his  own  fashion  ;  "  that's  just  it,  your 
honor.  They've  passed  the  order  below  to  let  the  lights 
stand  for  farther  orders,  and  have  turned  the  hands 
up  for  a  frolic.  Such  ale  as  they  has,  stowed  in  the 
lower  hold  of  this  house,  like  leaguers  in  the  ground-tier, 
it  does  a  body's  heart  good  to  conter'plate.  All  hands  is 
bowsing  out  their  jibs  on  it,  sir,  and  the  old  Hall  will  soon 
be  carrying  as  much  sail  as  she  can  stagger  under.  It's 
nothing  but  loose-away  and  sheet-home." 

"  Aye,  aye,  Galleygo,  this  may  be  well  enough  for  the 
people  of  the  household,  if  Sir  Wycherly  allows  it ;  but  it 
ill  becomes  the  servants  of  guests  to  fall  into  this  disorder. 
If  I  find  Tom  has  done  anything  amiss,  he  will  hear  more 
of  it ;  and  as  your  own  master  is  not  here  to  admonish  you, 
I'll  just  take  the  liberty  of  doing  it  for  him,  since  I  know 
it  would  mortify  him  exceedingly  to  learn  that  his  steward 
had  done  anything  to  disgrace  himself." 

''Lord  bless  your  dear  soul,  Admiral  Blue,  take  just  as 
many  liberties  as  you  think  fit,  and  I'll  never  pocket  one 
on  'em.  I  know'd  you,  when  you  was  only  a  young 
gentleman,  and  now  you're  a  rear.  You're  close  on  our 
heels  ;  and  by  the  time  we  are  a  full  admiral,  you'll  be 
something  like  a  vice.  I  looks  upon  you  as  bone  of  our 
bone,  and  flesh  of  our  flesh — Pillardees  and  Arrestees — and 
I  no  more  minds  a  setting-down  from  your  honor,  than  I 
does  from  Sir  Jarvy  himself." 

"  I  believe  that  is  true  enough,  Galleygo  ;  but  take  my 
advice,  and  knock  off  with  the  ale  for  to-night.  Can  you 
tell  me  how  the  land  lies,  with  the  rest  of  the  company  ? " 

"  You  couldn't  have  asked  a  better  person,  your  honor,  as 
I've  just  been  passing  through  all  the  rooms,  from  a  sort  of 
habit  I  has,  sir  ;  for,  d'ye  see,  I  thought  I  was  in  the  old 
Planter,  and  that  it  was  my  duty  to  overlook  everything,  as 
usual.  The  last  pull  at  the  ale  put  that  notion  in  my  head  ; 
but  it's  gone  now,  and  I  see  how  matters  is.  Yes,  sir,  the 
mainmast  of  a  church  isn't  stiffer  and  more  correct-like,  than 
my  judgment  is,  at  this  blessed  moment.  Sir  Wycherly  guv' 
me  a  glass  of  his  black-strap,  as  I  ran  through  the  dining- 
room,  and  told  me  to  drink  '  Confusion  to  the  Pretender,' 


104  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

which  I  did,  with  hearty  good-will  ;  but  his  liquor  will  no 
more  lay  alongside  of  the  ale  they've  down  on  the  orlop 
than  a  Frenchman  will  compare  with  an  Englishman. 
What's  your  opinion,  Admiral  Blue,  consarning  this  cruise 
of  the  Pretender's  son,  up  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland  ?" 

Bluewater  gave  a  quick,  distrustful  glance  at  the  steward, 
for  he  knew  that  the  fellow  was  half  his  time  in  the  outer 
cabin  and  pantries  of  the  Plantagenet,  and  he  could  not 
tell  how  much  of  his  many  private  dialogues  with  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  might  have  been  overheard.  Meeting  with  nothing 
but  the  unmeaning  expression  of  one  half-seas-over,  his 
uneasiness  instantly  subsided. 

"  I  think  it  a  gallant  enterprise,  Galleygo,"  he  answered  ; 
too  manly  even  to  feign  what  he  did  riot  believe  ;  "  but  I 
fear  as  a  cruise,  it  will  not  bring  much  prize-money.  You 
have  forgotten  you  were  about  to  tell  me  how  the  land  lies. 
Sir  Wycherly,  Mr.  Button,  Mr.  Rotherham,  are  still  at  the 
table,  I  fancy — are  these  all  ?  What  has  become  of  the  two 
young  gentlemen  ?" 

"There's  none  ashore,  sir,"  said  Galleygo,  promptly,  ac 
customed  to  give  that  appellation  only  to  midshipmen. 

"  I  mean  the  two  Mr.  Wychecombes,  one  of  whom,  I  had 
forgot,  is  actually  an  officer." 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  a  most  partic'lar  fine  officer  he  is,  as  every 
body  says.  Well,  sir,  he's  with  the  ladies  ;  while  his  name 
sake  has  gone  back  to  the  table,  and  has  put  luff  upon  luff, 
to  fetch  up  leeway," 

"  And  the  ladies — what  have  they  done  with  themselves 
in  this  scene  of  noisy  revelry  ? " 

"  They'se  in  yonder  state-room,  yer  honor.  As  soon  as 
they  found  how  the  ship  was  heading,  like  all  women-craft, 
they  both  makes  for  the  best  harbor  they  could  run  into. 
Yes,  they'se  yonder." 

As  Galleygo  pointed  to  the  door  of  the  room  he  meant, 
Bluewater  proceeded  toward  it,  parting  with  the  steward 
after  a  few  more  words  of  customary,  but  very  useless  cau 
tion.  The  tap  of  the  Admiral  was  answered  by  Wycherly 
in  person,  who  opened  the  door,  and  made  way  for  his  su 
perior  to  enter,  with  a  respectful  obeisance.  There  was 
but  a  single  candle  in  the  little  parlor,  in  which  the  two 
females  had  taken  refuge  from  the  increasing  noise  of  the 
debauch  ;  and  this  was  due  to  a  pious  expedient  of  Mil 
dred's,  in  extinguishing  the  others  with  a  view  to  conceal 
the  traces  of  tears  that  were  still  visible  on  her  own  and 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  105 

her  mother's  cheeks.  The  Rear-admiral  was  at  first  struck 
with  this  comparative  obscurity  ;  but  it  soon  appeared  to 
him  appropriate  to  the  feelings  of  the  party  assembled  in 
the  room.  Mrs.  Dutton  received  him  with  the  ease  she  had 
acquired  in  her  early  life,  and  the  meeting  passed  as  a  mat 
ter  of  course,  with  persons  temporarily  residing  under  the 
same  roof. 

"  Our  friends  appear  to  be  enjoying  themselves,"  said 
Bluewater,  when  a  shout  from  the  dining-room  forced  itself 
on  the  ears  of  all  present.  "  The  loyalty  of  Sir  Wycherly 
seems  to  be  of  proof." 

"  O  !  Admiral  Bluewater,"  exclaimed  the  distressed  wife, 
feeling  momentarily  getting  the  better  of  discretion  ;  "  do 
you — can  you  call  such  a  desecration  of  God's  image  en 
joyment  ? " 

"Not  justly,  perhaps,  Mrs.  Dutton  ;  and  yet  it  is  what 
millions  mistake  for  it.  This  mode  of  celebrating  any 
great  event,  and  even  of  illustrating  what  \ve  think  our 
principles,  is,  I  fear,  a  vice  not  only  of  our  age,  but  of  our 
country." 

"  And  yet,  neither  you  nor  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  I  see, 
find  it  necessary  to  give  such  a  proof  of  your  attachment  to 
the  house  of  Hanover,  or  of  your  readiness  to  serve  it  with 
your  time  and  persons." 

"  You  wrill  remember,  my  good  lady,  that  both  Oakes 
and  myself  are  flag-officers  in  command,  and  it  would  never 
do  for  us  to  fall  into  a  debauch  in  sight  of  our  own  ships, 
I  am  glad  to  see,  however,  that  Mr.  Wychecombe,  here, 
prefers  such  society  as  I  find  him  in,  to  the  pleasure  of  the 
table." 

Wycherly  bowed,  and  Mildred  cast  an  expressive,  not  to 
say  grateful,  glance  toward  the  speaker  ;  but  her  mother 
pursued  the  discourse,  in  which  she  found  a  little  relief  to 
her  suppressed  emotion. 

"  God  be  thanked  for  that  !  "  she  exclaimed,  half  uncon 
scious  of  the  interpretation  that  might  be  put  on  her 
words  ;  "all  that  we  have  seen  of  Mr.  Wychecombe  would 
lead  us  to  believe  that  this  is  not  an  unusual,  or  an  acciden 
tal  forbearance." 

"  So  much  the  more  fortunate  for  him.  I  congratulate 
you,  young  sir,  on  this  triumph  of  principle,  or  of  temper 
ament,  or  of  both.  We  belong  to  a  profession  in  which 
the  bottle  is  an  enemy  more  to  be  feared  than  any  that  the 
King  can  give  us.  A  sailor  can  call  in  no  ally  as  efficient 


io6  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

in  subduing  this  mortal  foe,  as  an  intelligent  and  cultivated 
mind.  The  man  who  really  thinks  much,  seldom  drinks 
much  ;  but  there  are  hours — nay,  weeks  and  months  of 
idleness  in  a  ship,  in  which  the  temptation  to  resort  to  un 
natural  excitement  in  quest  of  pleasure  is  too  strong  for 
minds  that  are  not  well  fortified,  to  resist.  This  is  partic 
ularly  the  case  with  commanders,  who  find  themselves  iso 
lated  by  their  rank,  and  oppressed  with  responsibility,  in 
the  privacy  of  their  own  cabins,  and  get  to  make  a  com 
panion  of  the  bottle,  by  \vay  of  seeking  relief  from  uncom 
fortable  thought,  and  of  creating  a  society  of  their  own. 
I  deem  the  critical  period  of  a  sailor's  life  to  be  the  first 
few  years  of  solitary  command." 

"  HowTtrue  ! — how  true  !  "  murmured  Mrs.  Button.  "O, 
that  cutter — that  cruel  cutter  !  " 

The  truth  flashed  upon  the  recollection  of  Bluewater,  at 
this  unguarded,  and  instantly  regretted  exclamation.  Many 
years  before,  when  only  a  captain  himself,  he  had  been  a 
member  of  a  court-martial  which  cashiered  a  lieutenant  of 
the  name  of  Button,  for  grievous  misconduct  while  in  com 
mand  of  a  cutter  ;  the  fruits  of  the  bottle.  From  the  first, 
he  thought  the  name  familiar  to  him  ;  but  so  many  similar 
things  had  happened  in  the  course  of  forty  years'  service, 
that  this  particular  incident  had  been  partially  lost  in  the 
obscurity  of  time.  It  was  now  completely  recalled,  how 
ever  ;  and  that,  too,  with  all  its  attendant  circumstances. 
The  recollection  served  to  give  the  Rear-admiral  renewed 
interest  in  the  unhappy  wife  and  lovely  daughter  of  the 
miserable  delinquent.  He  had  been  applied  to,  at  the 
time,  for  his  interest  in  effecting  the  restoration  of  the 
guilty  officer,  or  even  to  procure  for  him  the  hopeless 
station  he  now  actually  occupied ;  but  he  had  sternly  re 
fused  to  be  a  party  in  placing  any  man  in  authority,  who 
was  the  victim  of  a  propensity  that  not  only  disgraced  him 
self,  but  which,  in  the  peculiar  position  of  a  sailor,  equally 
jeoparded  the  honor  of  the  country,  and  risked  the  lives  of 
all  around  him.  He  was  aware  that  the  last  application 
had  been  successful,  by  means  of  a  court  influence  it  was 
very  unusual  to  exert  in  cases  so  insignificant  ;  and  then 
he  had,  for  years,  lost  sight  of  the  criminal  and  his  for 
tunes.  This  unexpected  revival  of  his  old  impressions, 
caused  him  to  feel  like  an  ancient  friend  of  the  wTife  and 
daughter  ;  for  well  could  he  recall  a  scene  he  had  with 
both,  in  which  the  struggle  between  his  humanity  and  his 


77/A   TIVO   ADMIRALS.  10; 

principles  had  been  so  violent  as  actually  to  reduce  him  to 
tears.  Mildred  had  forgotten  the  name  of  this  particular 
officer,  having  been  merely  a  child  ;  but  well  did  Mrs. 
Button  remember  it,  and  with  fear  and  trembling  had  she 
come  that  day,  to  meet  him  at  the  Hall.  The  lirst  look 
satisfied  her  that  she  was  forgotten,  and  she  had  struggled 
herself,  to  bury  in  oblivion  a  scene  which  was  one  of  the 
most  painful  of  all  her  life.  The  unguarded  expression 
mentioned,  entirely  changed  the  state  of  affairs. 

"  Mrs.  Button,"  said  Bluewater,  kindly  taking  a  hand 
of  the  distressed  wife  ;  "  I  believe  we  are  old  friends  ;  if, 
after  what  has  passed,  you  will  allow  me  so  to  consider 
myself." 

"Ah!  Admiral  Bluewater,  my  memory  needed  no  ad- 
monisher  to  tell  me  that.  Your  sympathy  and  kindness 
are  as  grateful  to  me  now,  as  they  were  in  that  dreadful 
moment,  when  we  met  before." 

"  And  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  this  young  lady,  more 
than  once,  on  that  unpleasant  occasion.  This  accounts  for 
a  fancy  that  has  fairly  haunted  me  throughout  the  day  ; 
for,  from  the  instant  my  eye  fell  on  Miss  Mildred,  it  struck 
me  that  the  face,  and,  most  of  all,  its  expression,  was  famil 
iar  to  me.  Certainly  it  is  not  a  countenance,  once  seen, 
easily  to  be  forgotten." 

"  Mildred  was  then  but  a  child,  sir,  and  your  recollec 
tion  must  have  been  a  fancy  indeed,  as  children  of  her  age 
seldom  make  any  lasting  impression  on  the  mind,  particu 
larly  in  the  way  of  features." 

"It  is  not  the  features  that  I  recognize,  but  the  expres 
sion  ;  and  that,  I  need  not  tell  the  young  lady's  mother,  is 
an  expression  not  so  very  easily  forgotten.  I  dare  say  Mr. 
Wychecombe  is  ready  enough  to  vouch  for  the  truth  of 
what  I  say." 

"  Hark  ! "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Button,  who  was  sensitively 
alive  to  any  indication  of  the  progress  of  the  debauch. 
u  There  is  great  confusion  in  the  dining-room  ! — I  hope  the 
gentlemen  are  of  one  mind  as  respects  this  rising  in  Scot 
land!" 

"  If  there  is  a  Jacobite  among  them,  he  will  have  a 
warm  time  of  it,  with  Sir  Wycherly,  his  nephew,  and  the 
vicar — all  three  of  whom  are  raging  lions,  in  the  way  of 
loyalty.  There  does,  indeed,  seem  something  out  of  the 
way,  for  those  sounds,  I  should  think,  are  the  feet  of  ser 
vants,  running  to  and  fro.  If  the  servants'-hall  is  in  the 


io8  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

condition  I  suspect,  it  will  as  much  need  the  aid  of  the 
parlor,  as  the  parlor  can  possibly " 

A  rap  at  the  door  caused  Bluewater  to  cease  speaking  ; 
and  as  Wycherly  threw  open  the  entrance,  Galleygo  ap 
peared  on  the  threshold,  by  this  time  reduced  to  the  neces 
sity  of  holding  on  by  the  casings. 

"Well,  sir,"  said  the  Rear-admiral,  sternly,  for  he  was 
no  longer  disposed  to  trifle  with  any  of  the  crapulous  set ; 
"well,  sir,  what  impertinence  has  brought  you  here  ?" 

"  No  impertinence  at  all,  your  honor  ;  we  carries  none 
of  that,  in  the  old  Planter.  There  being  no  young  gen 
tlemen,  hereabouts,  to  report  proceedings,  I  thought  I'd 
just  step  in  and  do  the  duty  with  my  tongue.  We  has  so 
many  reports  in  our  cabin,  that  there  isn't  an  officer  in  the 
fleet  that  can  make  'em  better,  as  myself,  sir." 

"  There  are  a  hundred  who  would  spend  fewer  words  on 
any  thing.  What  is  your  business  ? " 

"Why,  sir,  just  to  report  one  flag  struck,  and  a  com- 
mander-in-chief  on  his  beam-ends." 

"Good  God  !  Nothing  has  happened  to  Sir  Gervaise — 
speak,  fellow,  or  I'll  have  you  sent  out  of  this  Babel,  and 
off  to  the  ship,  though  it  were  midnight." 

"  It  be  pretty  much  that,  Admiral  Blue  ;  or  past  six 
bells  ;  as  any  one  may  see  by  the  ship's  clock  on  the  great 
companion  ladder  ;  six  bells,  going  well  on  to  seven — 

"  Your  business,  sir  !  what  has  happened  to  Sir  Ger 
vaise  ? "  repeated  Bluewater,  shaking  his  long  fore-finger 
menacingly  at  the  steward. 

"  We  are  as  well,  Admiral  Blue,  as  the  hour  we  came 
over  the  Planter's  side.  Sir  Jarvy  will  carry  sail  with  the 
best  on  'em,  I'll  answer  for  it,  whether  the  ship  floats  in 
old  Port  Oporto,  or  in  a  brewer's  vat.  Let  Sir  Jarvy  alone 
for  them  tricks — he  wasn't  a  young  gentleman  for  noth 
ing." 

"  Have  a  moment's  patience,  sir,"  put  in  Wycherly, 
"and  I  will  go  myself,  and  ascertain  the  truth." 

"  I  shall  make  but  another  inquiry,"  continued  Admiral 
Bluewater,  as  Wycherly  left  the  room. 

"  Why,  d'ye  see,  your  honor,  old  Sir  Wycherly,  who  is 
commander-in-chief,  along-shore  here,  has  capsized  in  con 
sequence  of  carrying  sail  too  hard,  in  company  with 
younger  craft  ;  and  they're  now  warping  him  into  dock  to 
be  overhauled." 

"  Is  this  all ! — that  was  a  result  to  be  expected  in  such  a. 


THE    TUT0   ADMIRALS.  109 

debauch.  You  need  not  put  on  so  ominous  a  face,  for  this, 
Galleygo." 

"  No,  sir,  so  I  thought,  myself  ;  and  I  only  tried  to  look 
as  melancholy  as  a  young  gentleman  who  is  sent  below  to 
report  a  top-gallant-mast  over  the  side,  or  a  studding-sail- 
boom  gone  in  the  iron.  D'ye  remember  the  time,  Admiral 
Blue,  when  you  thought  to  luff  up  on  the  old  Planter's 
weather-quarter,  and  get  between  her  and  the  French 
ninety  on  three  decks,  and  how  your  stu'n-sails  went,  one 
a'ter  another,  just  like  so  many  musher-rooms  breaking  in 
peeling  ? " 

Galleygo,  who  was  apt  to  draw  his  images  from  his  two 
trades,  might  have  talked  on  an  hour,  without  interrup 
tion  ;  for  while  he  was  uttering  the  above  sentence,  Wych- 
erly  returned,  and  reported  that  their  host  was  seriously, 
even  dangerously  ill.  While  doing  the  honors  of  his  table, 
he  had  been  seized  with  a  fit,  which  the  vicar,  a  noted 
three-bottle  man,  feared  was  apoplexy.  Mr.  Rotherham 
had  bled  the  patient,  who  was  already  a  little  better,  and 
an  express  had  been  sent  for  a  medical  man.  As  a  matter 
of  course,  the  convives  had  left  the  table,  and  alarm  was 
frightening  the  servants  into  sobriety.  At  Mrs.  Button's 
earnest  request,  Wycherly  immediately  left  the  room  again, 
forcing  Galleygo  out  before  him,  with  a  view  to  get  more 
accurate  information  concerning  the  Baronet's  real  situa 
tion  ;  both  the  mother  and  daughter  feeling  a  real  affection 
for  Sir  Wycherly  ;  the  kind  old  man  having  won  their 
hearts  by  his  habitual  benevolence,  and  a  constant  concern 
for  their  welfare. 

"  Sic  transit  gloria  mundi"  muttered  Admiral  Bluewater, 
as  he  threw  his  tall  person,  in  his  own  careless  manner,  on 
a  chair,  in  a  dark  corner  of  the  room.  *'  This  Baronet  has 
fallen  from  his  throne,  in  a  moment  of  seeming  prosperity 
and  revelry  ;  why  may  not  another  do  the  same  ? " 

Mrs.  Button  heard  the  voice,  without  distinguishing  the 
words,  and  she  felt  distressed  at  the  idea  that  one  whom 
she  so  much  respected  and  loved  might  be  judged  of 
harshly,  by  a  man  of  the  Rear-admiral's  character. 

"  Sir  Wycherly  is  one  of  the  kindest-hearted  men  breath 
ing,"  she  said,  a  little  hurriedly  ;  "and  there  is  not  a  better 
landlord  in  England.  Then  he  is  by  no  means  addicted  to 
indulgence  at  table,  more  than  is  customary  with  gentle 
men  of  his  station.  His  loyalty  has,  no  doubt,  carried  him 


no  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

this  evening  further  than  was  prudent,  or  than  we  could 
have  wished." 

"  I  have  every  disposition  to  think  favorably  of  our  poor 
host,  my  dear  Mrs.  Button,  and  we  seamen  are  not  accus 
tomed  to  judge  a  bon  vivant  too  harshly." 

"  Ah  !  Admiral  Bluewater,  you  who  have  so  wide-spread 
a  reputation  for  sobriety  and  correct  deportment  !  Well 
do  I  remember  how  I  trembled,  when  I  heard  your  name 
mentioned  as  one  of  the  leading  members  of  that  dreadful 
court  !  " 

"  You  let  your  recollections  dwell  too  much  on  these 
unpleasant  subjects,  Mrs.  Button,  and  I  should  like  to  see 
you  setting  an  example  of  greater  cheerfulness  to  your 
sweet  daughter.  I  could  not  befriend  you,  then,  for  my 
oath  and  my  duty  were  both  against  it ;  but,  now,  there  ex 
ists  no  possible  reason  why  I  should  not ;  while  there  does 
exist  almost  every  possible  disposition  why  I  should.  This 
sweet  child  interests  me  in  a  way  I  can  hardly  describe." 

Mrs.  Button  was  silent  and  thoughtful.  The  years  of 
Admiral  Bluewater  did  not  absolutely  forbid  his  regarding 
Mildred's  extreme  beauty  writh  the  eyes  of  ordinary  ad 
miration  ;  but  his  language,  and  most  of  all,  his  character, 
ought  to  repel  the  intrusive  suspicion.  Still,  Mildred  was 
surpassingly  lovely,  and  men  were  surpassingly  weak  in 
matters  of  love.  Many  a  hero  had  passed  a  youth  of  self- 
command  and  discretion,  to  consummate  some  act  of  ex 
ceeding  folly,  of  this  very  nature,  in  the  decline  of  life  : 
and  bitter  experience  had  taught  her  to  be  distrustful. 
Nevertheless,  she  could  not,  at  once,  bring  herself  to  think 
ill  of  one  whose  character  she  had  so  long  respected,  and, 
with  all  the  Rear-admiral's  directness  of  manner,  there  was 
so  much  real  and  feeling  delicacy,  blended  with  the  breed 
ing  of  a  gentleman-like  sailor,  that  it  was  not  easy  to  sup 
pose  that  he  had  any  other  motives  than  those  he  chose  to 
avow.  Mildred  had  made  many  a  friend,  by  a  sweetness  of 
countenance  that  was  even  more  winning  than  her  general 
beauty  of  face  and  form  was  attractive ;  and  why  should 
not  this  respectable  old  seaman  be  of  the  number  ? 

This  train  of  thought  was  interrupted  by  the  sudden  and 
unwelcome  appearance  of  Button.  He  had  just  returned 
from  the  bedside  of  Sir  Wycherly,  and  now  came  to  seek 
his  wife  and  daughter,  to  bid  them  prepare  to  enter  the 
chariot,  which  was  in  waiting  to  convey  them  home. 

The  miserable  man  was  not  intoxicated,  in  the  sense  that 


TUP:    TWO   ADMIRALS.  in 

deprives  a  man  of  the  use  of  speech  and  limbs ;  but  he  had 
drunk  quite  enough  to  awaken  the  demon  within  him,  and 
to  lay  bare  the  secrets  of  his  true  character.  If  any  thing, 
his  nerves  were  better  strung  than  common  ;  but  the  wine 
had  stirred  up  all  the  energies  of  a  being,  whose  resolu 
tions  seldom  took  the  direction  of  correct  feeling,  or  of 
right  doing.  The  darkness  of  the  room,  and  a  slight  con 
fusion  which  nevertheless  existed  in  his  brain,  prevented 
him  from  noticing  the  person  of  his  superior,  seated,  as  the 
latter  was,  in  the  dark  corner;  and  he  believed  himself  once 
more  alone  with  those  who  were  so  completely  dependent 
on  his  mercy,  and  who  had  so  long  been  the  subjects  of  his 
brutality  and  tyranny. 

"  I  hope  Sir  Wycherly  is  better,  Button,"  the  wife  com 
menced,  fearful  that  her  husband  might  expose  himself 
and  her,  before  he  was  aware  of  the  presence  in  which  he 
stood.  "Admiral  Bluewater  is  as  anxious  as  we  ourselves, 
to  know  his  true  state." 

"Aye,  you  women  are  all  pity  and  feeling  for  baronets 
and  rear-admirals,"  answered  Button,  throwing  himself 
rudely  into  a  chair,  with  his  back  toward  the  stranger,  in 
an  attitude  completely  to  exclude  the  latter  from  his  view; 
"while  a  husband,  or  father,  might  die  a  hundred  deaths, 
and  not  draw  a  look  of  pity  from  your  beautiful  eyes,  or  a 
kind  word  from  your  devilish  tongues." 

"  Neither  Mildred  nor  I  merit  this  from  you,  Button  !  " 

"  No,  you're  both  perfection  ;  like  mother,  like  child. 
Haven't  I  been,  fifty  times,  at  death's  door,  with  this  very 
complaint  of  Sir  Wycherly's,  and  did  either  of  you  ever 
send  for  an  apothecary,  even  ? " 

"You  have  been  occasionally  indisposed,  Button,  but 
never  apoplectic  ;  and  we  have  always  thought  a  little 
sleep  would  restore  you  ;  as,  indeed,  it  always  has." 

"What  business  had  you  to  think?  Surgeons  think, 
and  medical  men,  and  it  was  your  duty  to  send  for  the 
nearest  professional  man,  to  look  after  one  you're  bound 
both  to  honor  and  obey.  You  are  your  own  mistress, 
Martha,  I  do  suppose,  in  a  certain  degree  ;  and  what  can't 
be  cured  must  be  endured  ;  but  Mildred  is  my  child  ;  and 
I'll  have  her  respect  and  love,  if  I  break  both  your  hearts 
in  order  to  get  at  them." 

"  A  pious  daughter  always  respects  her  parent,  Button," 
said  the  wife,  trembling  from  head  to  foot ;  "  but  love  must 
come  willingly,  or  it  will  not  come  at  all." 


H2  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"We'll  see  as  to  that,  Mrs.  Martha  Button  ;  we'll  see  as 
to  that.  Come  hither,  Mildred  ;  I  have  a  word  to  say  to 
you,  which  may  as  well  be  said  at  once." 

Mildred,  trembling  like  her  mother,  drew  near  ;  but  with 
a  feeling  of  filial  piety,  that  no  harshness  could  entirely 
smother,  she  felt  anxious  to  prevent  the  father  from  farther 
exposing  himself,  in  the  presence  of  Admiral  Bluewater. 
With  this  view,  then,  and  with  this  view  only,  she  sum 
moned  firmness  enough  to  speak. 

"  Father,"  she  said,  "  had  we  not  better  defer  our  family 
matters  until  we  are  alone  ?" 

Under  ordinary  circumstances,  Bluewater  would  not 
have  waited  for  so  palpable  a  hint,  for  he  would  have  re 
tired  on  the  first  appearance  of  anything  so  disagreeable 
as  a  misunderstanding  between  man  and  wife.  But  an 
ungovernable  interest  in  the  lovely  girl,  who  stood  trem 
bling  at  her  father's  knee,  caused  him  to  forget  his  habitual 
delicacy  of  feeling,  rnd  to  overlook  what  might  perhaps 
be  termed  almost  a  law  of  society.  Instead  of  moving, 
therefore,  as  Mildred  had  both  hoped  and  expected,  he 
remained  motionless  in  his  seat.  Button's  mind  was  too 
obtuse  to  comprehend  his  daughter's  allusions,  in  the  ab 
sence  of  ocular  evidence  of  a  stranger's  presence,  and  his 
wrath  was  too  much  excited  to  permit  him  to  think  much 
of  anything  but  his  own  causes  of  indignation. 

"  Stand  more  in  front  of  me,  Mildred,"  he  answered, 
angrily.  "More  before  my  face,  as  becomes  one  who 
don't  know  her  duty  to  her  parent,  and  needs  be  taught 
it." 

"  O  !  Button,"  exclaimed  the  afflicted  wife,  "  do  not — 
do  not — accuse  Mildred  of  being  undutiful  ?  You  know 
not  what  you  say — know  not  her  obliga — you  cannot 
know  her  heart,  or  you  would  not  use  these  cruel  impu 
tations  ! " 

"  Silence,  Mrs.  Martha  Button  !  my  business  is  not  with 
you,  at  present,  but  with  this  young  lady,  to  whom,  I  hope, 
I  may  presume  to  speak  a  little  plainly,  as  she  is  my  own 
child.  Silence,  then,  Mrs.  Martha  Button.  If  my  memory 
is  not  treacherous,  you  once  stood  up  before  God's  altar 
with  me,  and  there  vowed  to  love,  honor,  and  obey.  Yes, 
that  was  the  word  ;  obey,  Mrs.  Martha  Button." 

"  And  what  did  you  promise,  at  the  same  time,  Frank  ?  " 
exclaimed  the  wife,  from  whose  bruised  spirit  this  implied 
accusation  was  torn  in  an  agony  of  mental  suffering. 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  113 

"  Nothing  but  what  I  have  honestly  and  manfully  per 
formed.  I  promised  to  provide  for  you  ;  to  give  you  fopd 
and  raiment  ;  to  let  you  bear  my  name,  and  stand  before 
the  world  in  the  honorable  character  of  honest  Frank 
Button's  wife." 

'•  Honorable  ! "  murmured  the  wife,  loud  enough  to  be 
heard  by  both  the  Admiral  and  Mildred,  and  yet  in  a  tone 
so  smothered,  as  to  elude  the  obtuse  sense  of  hearing  which 
long  excess  had  left  her  husband.  When  this  expressive 
word  had  broken  out  of  her  very  heart,  however,  she  suc 
ceeded  in  suppressing  her  voice,  and  sinking  into  a  chair, 
concealed  her  face  in  her  hands,  in  silence. 

"  Mildred,  come  hither,"  resumed  the  brutalized  parent. 
"  You  are  my  daughter,  and  whatever  others  have  prom 
ised  at  the  altar,  and  forgotten,  a  law  of  nature  teaches 
you  to  obey  me.  You  have  two  admirers,  either  of  whom 
you  ought  to  be  glad  to  secure,  though  there  is  great 
preference  between  them " 

"Father!"  exclaimed  Mildred,  every  feeling  of  her 
sensitive  nature  revolting  at  this  coarse  allusion  to  a  con 
nection,  and  to  sentiments,  that  she  was  accustomed  to 
view  as  among  the  most  sacred  and  private  of  her  moral 
being.  "Surely  you  cannot  mean  what  you  say." 

"  Like  mother,  like  child  !  Let  but  disobedience  and 
disrespect  get  possession  of  a  wife,  and  they  are  certain  to 
run  through  a  whole  family,  even  though  there  were  a 
dozen  children  !  Harkee,  Miss  Mildred,  it  is  you  who 
don't  happen  to  know  what  you  say,  while  I  understand 
myself  as  well  as  most  parents.  Your  mother  would  never 
acquaint  you  with  what  I  feel  it  a  duty  to  put  plainly  be 
fore  your  judgment ;  and,  therefore,  I  expect  you  to  listen 
as  becomes  a  dutiful  and  affectionate  child.  You  can  se 
cure  either  of  these  young  Wychecombes,  and  either  of 
them  would  be  a  good  match  for  a  poor,  disgraced,  sailing- 
master's  daughter." 

"  Father,  I  shall  sink  through  the  floor,  if  you  say  another 
word,  in  this  cruel  manner  !  " 

"  No,  dear ;  you'll  neither  sink  nor  swim,  unless  it  be  by 
making  a  bad,  or  a  good  choice.  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe 
is  Sir  Wycherly's  heir,  and  must  be  the  next  baronet,  and 
possessor  of  this  estate. ,  Of  course  he  is  much  the  best 
thing,  and  you  ought  to  give  him  the  preference." 

"  Button,  can  you,  as  a  father  and  a  Christian,  give  such 
heartless  counsel  to  your  own  child  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs. 
8 


H4  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

Dutton,  inexpressibly  shocked  at  the  want  of  principle,  as 
well  as  the  want  of  feeling,  discovered  in  her  husband's 
advice. 

"Mrs.  Martha  Dutton,  I  can;  and  believe  the  counsel 
to  be  anything  but  heartless,  too.  Do  you  wish  your 
daughter  to  be  the  wife  of  a  miserable  signal-station  keeper, 
when  she  may  become  Lady  Wychecombe,  with  a  little 
prudent  management,  and  the  mistress  of  this  capital  old 
house,  and  noble  estate  ? " 

"  Father — father,"  interrupted  Mildred,  soothingly, 
though  ready  to  sink  with  shame  at  the  idea  of  Admiral 
Bluewater's  being  an  auditor  of  such  a  conversation ; 
"you  forget  yourself  and  overlook  my  wishes.  There  is 
little  probability  of  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe's  ever  think 
ing  of  me  as  a  wife — or,  indeed,  of  any  one  else's  enter 
taining  such  thoughts." 

"  That  will  turn  out  as  you  manage  matters,  Milly.  Mr. 
Thomas  Wychecombe  does  not  think  of  you  as  a  wife, 
quite  likely,  just  at  this  moment  ;  but  the  largest  whales 
are  taken  by  the  means  of  very  small  lines,  when  the  last 
are  properly  handled.  This  young  Lieutenant  would  have 
you  to-morrow  ;  though  a  more  silly  thing  than  for  you 
two  to  marry,  could  not  well  be  hit  upon.  He  is  only  a 
lieutenant  ;  and  though  his  name  is  so  good  a  one,  it  does 
not  appear  that  he  has  any  particular  right  to  it." 

"  And  yet,  Dutton,  you  were  only  a  lieutenant  when  you 
married,  and  your  name  \vas  nothing  in  the  way  of  interest 
or  preferment,"  observed  the  mother,  anxious  to  interpose 
some  new  feeling  between  her  daughter  and  the  cruel  in 
ference  left  by  the  former  part  of  her  husband's  speech. 
44  We  then  thought  all  lay  bright  before  us  ? " 

"  And  so  all  would  lie  to  this  hour,  Mrs.  Dutton,  but  for 
that  one  silly  act  of  mine.  A  man  with  the  charges  of  a 
family  on  him,  little  pay,  and  no  fortune,  is  driven  to  a 
thousand  follies  to  hide  his  misery.  You  do  not  strengthen 
your  case  by  reminding  me  of  that  imprudence.  But  Mil 
dred,  I  do  not  tell  you  to  cut  adrift  this  young  Virgininn, 
for  he  may  be  of  use  in  more  ways  than  one.  In  the  first 
place,  you  can  play  him  off  against  Mr.  Thomas  Wyche 
combe  ;  and,  in  the  second  place,  a  lieutenant  is  likely, 
one  day,  to  be  a  captain  ;  and  the^wife  of  a  captain  in  his 
Majesty's  navy,  is  no  disreputable  berth.  I  advise  you, 
girl,  to  use  this  youngster  as  a  bait  to  catch  the  heir  with  : 
and,  failing  a  good  bite,  to  take  up  with  the  lad  himself." 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  115 

This  was  said  dogmatically,  but  with  a  coarseness  of 
manner  that  fully  corresponded  with  the  looseness  of  the 
principles,  and  the  utter  want  of  delicacy  of  feeling  that 
alone  could  prompt  such  advice.  Mrs.  Button  fairly 
groaned,  as  she  listened  to  her  husband,  for  never  before 
had  he  so  completely  thrown  aside  the  mask  of  decency 
that  he  ordinarily  wore  ;  but  Mildred,  unable  to  control 
the  burst  of  wild  emotion  that  came  over  her,  broke  away 
from  the  place  she  occupied  at  her  father's  knee,  and,  as  if 
blindly  seeking  protection  in  any  asylum  that  she  fancied 
safe,  found  herself  sobbing,  as  if  her  heart  would  break, 
in  Admiral  Bluewater's  arms. 

Button  followed  the  ungovernable,  impulsive  movement, 
with  his  eye,  and  for  the  first  time  he  became  aware  in 
whose  presence  he  had  been  exposing  his  native  baseness. 
Wine  had  not  so  far  the  mastery  of  him,  as  to  blind  him  to 
all  the  consequences,  though  it  did  stimulate  him  to  a  point 
that  enabled  him  to  face  the  momentary  mortification  of 
his  situation. 

"  I  beg  a  thousand  pardons,  sir,"  he  said,  rising  and  bow 
ing  IOWT  to  his  superior  ;  "  I  was  totally  ignorant  that  I  had 
the  honor  to-be  in  the  company  of  Admiral  Bluewater — 
Admiral  Blue,  I  find  Jack  calls  you,  sir  ;  ha,  ha,  ha — a 
familiarity  which  is  a  true  sign  of  love  and  respect.  I  never 
knew  a  captain,  or  a  flag-officer,  that  got  a  regular,  expres 
sive  ship's  name,  that  he  wasn't  the  delight  of  the  whole 
service.  Yes,  sir  ;  I  find  the  people  call  Sir  Gervaise,  Lit 
tle  Jarvy,  and  yourself  Admiral  Blue — ha,  ha,  ha — an  infal 
lible  sign  of  merit  in  the  superior,  and  of  love  in  the  men." 

"  I  ought  to  apologize,  Mr.  Button,  for  making  one,  so 
unexpectedly  to  myself,  in  a  family  council,"  returned  the 
Rear-admiral.  "As  for  the  men,  they  are  no  great  philos 
ophers,  though  tolerable  judges  of  when  they  are  well  com 
manded,  and  well  treated.  But  the  hour  is  late,  and  it  was 
my  intention  to  sleep  in  my  own  ship,  to-night.  The  coach 
of  Sir  Wycherly  has  been  ordered  to  carry  me  to  the  land 
ing,  and  I  hope  to  have  the  permission  to  see  these  ladies 
home  in  it." 

The  answer  of  Button  was  given  with  perfect  self-pos 
session,  and  in  a  manner  to  show  that  he  knewT  how  to  ex 
ercise  the  courtesies  of  4ife,  or  to  receive  them,  when  in  the 
humor. 

"It  is  an  honor,  sir,  they  will  not  think  of  declining,  if 
my  wishes  are  consulted,"  he  said.  "  Come,  Milly,  foolish 


Ii6  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

firl,  dry  your  tears,  and  smile  on  Admiral  Bluewater  for 
is  condescension.  Young  women,  sir,  hardly  know  how 
to  take  a  joke  ;  and  our  ship's  humors  are  sometimes  a 
little  strong  for  them.  I  tell  my  dear  wife,  sometimes — 
'Wife,'  I  say,  'his  Majesty  can't  have  stout-hearted  and 
stout-handed  seamen,  and  women  poets  and  die-away 
swains,  and  all  in  the  same  individual,'  says  I.  Mrs.  Button 
understands  me,  sir  ;  and  so  does  little  Milly  ;  wTho  is  an 
excellent  girl  in  the  main  ;  though  a  little  addicted  to  us 
ing  the  eye-pumps,  as  we  have  it  aboard  ship,  sir." 

u  And  now,  Mr.  Button,  it  being  understood  that  I  am 
to  see  the  ladies  home,  will  you  do  me  the  favor  to  inquire 
after  the  condition  of  Sir  Wycherly.  One  would  not  wish 
to  quit  his  hospitable  roof,  in  uncertainty  as  to  his  actual 
situation." 

Button  was  duly  sensible  to  an  awkwardness  in  the  pres 
ence  of  his  superior,  and  he  gladly  profited  by  this  com 
mission  to  quit  the  room  ;  walking  more  steadily  than  if 
he  had  not  been  drinking. 

All  this  time  Mildred  hung  on  Admiral  Bluewater's 
shoulder,  weeping  and  unwilling  to  quit  a  place  that  seemed 
to  her,  in  her  fearful  agitation,  a  sort  of  sanctuary. 

"  Mrs.  Button,"  said  Bluewater,  first  kissing  the  cheek 
of  his  lovely  burden,  in  a  manner  so  parental,  that  the  most 
sensitive  delicacy  could  not  have  taken  alarm  ;  "you  will 
succeed  better  than  myself  in  quieting  the  feelings  of  this 
little  trembler.  I  need  hardly  say  that  if  I  have  accident 
ally  overheard  more  than  I  ought,  it  is  as  much  a  secret 
with  me,  as  it  would  be  with  your  own  brother.  The  char 
acters  of  all  cannot  be  affected  by  the  mistaken  and  excit 
ed  calculations  of  one  ;  and  this  occasion  has  served  to 
make  me  better  acquainted  with  you  and  your  admirable 
daughter,  than  I  might  otherwise  have  been,  by  means  of 
years  of  ordinary  intercourse." 

"  O  !  Admiral  Bluewater,  do  not  judge  him  too  harshly. 
He  has  been  too  long  at  that  fatal  table,  which  I  fear  has 
destroyed  poor,  dear  Sir  Wycherly,  and  knew  not  what  he 
said.  Never  before  have  I  seen  him  in  such  a  fearful  hu 
mor,  or  in  the  least  disposed  to  trifle  with,  or  to  wound  the 
feelings  of  this  sweet  child  !  " 

"  Her  extreme  agitation  is  a  proof  of  this,  my  good 
madam,  and  shows  all  you  can  wish  to  say.  View  me  as 
your  sincere  friend,  and  place  every  reliance  on  my  discre 
tion." 


THE    TirO   ADMIRALS.  117 

The  wounded  mother  listened  with  gratitude,  and  Mil 
dred  withdrew  from  her  extraordinary  situation,  wonder 
ing  by  what  species  of  infatuation  she  could  have  been  led 
to  adopt  it. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Ah,  Montague, 

If  thou  be  there,  sweet  brother,  take  my  hand, 
And  with  thy  lips  keep  in  my  soul  awhile  ! 
Thou  lov'st  me  not ;  for,  brother,  if  thou  didst, 
Thy  tears  would  wash  this  cold,  congealed  blood 
That  glues  my  lips,  and  will  not  let  me  speak. 
Come,  quickly,  Montague,  or  I  am  dead. — King  Henry  J'7. 

SIR  WYCHERLY  had  actually  been  seized  with  a  fit  of 
apoplexy.  It  was  the  first  serious  disease  he  had  experi 
enced  in  a  long  life  of  health  and  prosperity  ;  and  the  sight 
of  their  condescending,  good-natured  master,  in  a  plight 
so  miserable,  had  a  surprising  effect  on  the  heated  brains 
of  all  the  household.  Mr.  Rotherham,  a  good  three-bottle 
man,  on  emergency,  had  learned  to  bleed,  and  fortunately 
the  vein  he  struck,  as  his  patient  still  lay  on  the  floor,  where 
he  had  fallen,  sent  out  a  stream  that  had  the  effect  not  only 
to  restore  the  Baronet  to  life,  but,  in  a  great  measure,  to 
consciousness.  Sir  Wycherly  was  not  a  hard  drinker,  like 
Dutton  ;  but  he  was  a  fair  drinker,  like  Mr.  Rotherham, 
and  most  of  the  beneficed  clergy  of  the  day.  Want  of  ex 
ercise,  as  he  grew  older,  had  as  much  influence  in  produc 
ing  his  attack  as  excess  of  wine  ;  and  there  were  already 
strong  hopes  of  his  surviving  it,  aided  as  he  was  by  a  good 
constitution.  The  apothecary  had  reached  the  Hail,  within 
five  minutes  after  the  attack,  having  luckily  been  prescrib 
ing  to  the  gardener  ;  and  the  physician  and  surgeon  of  the 
family  were  both  expected  in  the  course  of  the  morning. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  had  been  acquainted  with  the  state 
of  his  host,  by  his  own  valet,  as  soon  as  it  was  known 
in  the  servants'  hall,  and  being  a  man  of  action,  he  did  not 
hesitate  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  chamber  of  the  sick,  to 
offer  his  own  aid,  in  the  absence  of  that  which  might  be 
better. 

At  the  door  of  the  chamber,  he  met  Atwood,  who  had 
been  summoned  from  his  pen,  and  they  entered  together, 
the  Vice-admiral  feeling  for  a  lancet  in  his  norket.  for  he. 


n8  7V//i    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

too,  had  acquired  the  art  of  the  blood-letter.     They  now 
learned  the  actual  state  of  things. 

"Where  is  Bluewater  ? "  demanded  Sir  Gervaise,  after 
regarding  his  host  a  moment  with  commiseration  and  con 
cern.  "  I  hope  that  he  has  not  yet  left  the  house." 

"  He  is  still  here,  Sir  Gervaise,  but  I  should  think  on 
the  point  of  quitting  us.  I  heard  him  say,  that,  notwith 
standing  all  Sir  Wycherly's  kind  plans  to  detain  him,  he 
intended  to  sleep  in  his  own  ship." 

"That  I've  never  doubted,  though  I've  affected  to  be 
lieve  otherwise.  Go  to  him,  Atwood,  and  say  I  beg  he 
will  pull  within  hail  of  the  Plantagenet,  as  he  goes  off,  and 
desire  Mr.  Magrath  to  come  ashore,  as  soon  as  possible. 
There  shall  be  a  conveyance  at  the  landing  to  bring  him 
here ;  and  he  may  order  his  own  surgeon  to  come  also,  if 
it  be  agreeable  to  himself." 

With  these  instructions  the  secretary  left  the  room  ; 
while  Sir  Gervaise  turned  to  Tom  Wychecombe,  and  said 
a  few  of  the  words  customary  on  such  melancholy  occa 
sions. 

"I  think  there  is  hope,  sir,"  he  added,  "yes,  sir,  I  think 
there  is  hope  ;  though  your  honored  relative  is  no  longer 
young — still,  this  early  bleeding  has  been  a  great  thing  ; 
and  if  we  can  gain  a  little  time  for  poor  Sir  Wycherly,  our 
efforts  wTill  not  be  thrown  away.  Sudden  death  is  awful, 
sir,  and  few  of  us  are  prepared  for  it,  either  in  mind  or 
affairs.  We  sailors  have  to  hold  our  lives  in  our  hands,  it 
is  true,  but  then  it  is  for  king  and  country  ;  and  we  hope 
for  mercy  on  all  who  fall  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties. 
For  my  part,  I  am  never  unprovided  with  a  will,  ancl  that 
disposes  of  all  the  interests  of  this  world,  while  I  humbly 
trust  in  the  Great  Mediator  for  the  hereafter.  I  hope  Sir 
Wycherly  is  equally  provident  as  to  his  worldly  affairs  ? " 

"  No  doubt  my  dear  uncle  could  wish  to  leave  certain 
trifling  memorials  behind  him  to  a  few  of  his  intimates,1' 
returned  Tom,  with  a  dejected  countenance  ;  "but  he  has 
not  been  without  a  will.  I  believe,  for  some  time  ;  and  I 
presume  you  will  agree  with  me  in  thinking  he  is  not  in  a 
condition  to  make  one,  now,  were  he  unprovided  in  that 
way  ? " 

"  Perhaps  not  exactly  at  this  moment,  though  a  rally 
might  afford  an  opportunity.  The  estate  is  entailed,  I 
think  Mr.  Dutton  told  me,  at  dinner." 

"It  is,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  I  am  the  unworthv  individual 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  119 

who  is  to  profit  by  it,  according  to  the  common  notions  of 
men,  though  Heaven  knows  I  shall  consider  it  anything 
but  a  gain  ;  still,  I  am  the  unworthy  individual  who  is  to 
be  benefited  by  my  uncle's  death." 

"  Your  father  was  the  Baronet's  next  brother  ? "  observed 
Sir  Gervaise,  casually,  a  shade  of  distrust  passing  athwart 
his  mind,  though  coming  from  what  source,  or  directed  to 
what  point,  he  was  himself  totally  unable  to  say.  "Mr. 
Baron  Wychecombe,  I  believe,  was  your  parent  ?" 

u  He  was,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  a  most  tender  and  indulgent 
father  I  ever  found  him.  He  left  me  his  earnings,  some 
seven  hundred  a  year,  and  I  am  sure  the  death  of  Sir 
Wycherly  is  as  far  from  my  necessities,  as  it  is  from  my 
wishes." 

"  Of  course  you  will  succeed  to  the  baronetcy,  as  well 
as  to  the  estate  ? "  mechanically  asked  Sir  Gervaise,  led  on 
by  the  supererogatory  expressions  of  Tom  himself,  rather 
than  by  a  vulgar  curiosity,  to  ask  questions  that  under 
other  circumstances,  he  might  have  thought  improper. 

"  Of  course,  sir.  My  father  was  the  only  surviving 
brother  of  Sir  Wycherly  ;  the  only  one  who  ever  married; 
and  I  am  his  eldest  child.  Since  this  melancholy  event 
has  occurred,  it  is  quite  fortunate  that  I  lately  obtained 
this  certificate  of  the  marriage  of  my  parents — is  it  not, 
sir?" 

Here  Tom  drew  from  his  pocket  a  soiled  piece  of  paper, 
which  professed  to  be  a  certificate  of  the  marriage  of 
Thomas  Wychecombe,  barrister,  with  Martha  Dodd,  spins 
ter,  etc.,  etc.  The  document  was  duly  signed  by  the 
rector  of  a  parish  church  in  Westminster,  and  bore  a  date 
sufficiently  old  to  establish  the  legitimacy  of  the  person 
who  held  it.  This  extraordinary  precaution  produced  the 
very  natural  effect  of  increasing  the  distrust  of  the  Vice- 
admiral,  and,  in  a  slight  degree,  of  giving  it  a  direction. 

"You  go  well  armed,  sir,"  observed  Sir  Gervaise  dryly. 
"  Is  it  your  intention,  when  you  succeed,  to  carry  the 
patent  of  the  baronetcy,  and  the  title-deeds,  in  your 
pocket  ? " 

"Ah  !  I  perceive  my  having  this  document  strikes  you 
as  odd,  Sir  Gervaise,  but  it  can  be  easily  explained.  There 
was  a  wide  difference  in  rank  between  my  parents,  and 
some  ill-disposed  persons  have  presumed  so  far  to  reflect 
on  the  character  of  my  mother,  as  to  assert  that  she  was 
not  married  nt  nil." 


120  THE   TIVO  ADMIRALS, 

"  In  which  case,  sir,  you  would  do  well  to  cutoff  half-a- 
dozen  of  their  ears." 

"The  law  is  not  to  be  appeased  in  that  way,  Sir  Ger- 
vaise.  My  dear  parent  used  to  inculcate  on  me  the  neces 
sity  of  doing  every  thing  according  to  law  ;  and  I  endeavor 
to  remember  his  precepts.  He  avowed  his  marriage  on 
his  death-bed,  made  all  due  atonement  to  my  respected 
and  injured  mother,  and  informed  me  in  whose  hands  I 
should  find  this  very  certificate  ;  I  only  obtained  it  this 
morning,  which  fact  will  account  for  its  being  in  my 
pocket,  at  this  melancholy  and  unexpected  crisis  in  my 
beloved  uncle's  constitution." 

The  latter  part  of  Tom's  declaration  was  true  enough  ; 
for,  after  having  made  all  the  necessary  inquiries,  and  ob 
tained  the  handwriting  of  a  clergyman  who  was  long  since 
dead,  he  had  actually  forged  the  certificate  that  day,  on  a 
piece  of  soiled  paper,  that  bore  the  watermark  of  1720. 
Ilis  language,  however,  contributed  to  alienate  the  confi 
dence  of  his  listener  ;  Sir  Gervaise  being  a  man  who  was 
so  much  accustomed  to  directness  and  fair-dealing  him 
self,  as  to  feel  disgust  at  anything  that  had  the  semblance 
of  cant  or  hypocrisy.  Nevertheless,  he  had  his  own 
motives  for  pursuing  the  subject  ;  the  presence  of  another 
at  the  bedside  of  the  sufferer  being  just  then  necessary. 

"And  this  Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe,"  he  said;  "he 
who  has  so  much  distinguished  himself  of  late ;  your 
uncle's  namesake  ;  is  it  true  that  he  is  not  allied  to  your 
family  ?  " 

"Not  in  the  least,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  Tom,  with 
one  of  his  sinister  smiles.  "He  is  only  a  Virginian,  you 
know,  sir,  and  cannot  well  belong  to  us.  I  have  heard  my 
uncle  say,  often,  that  the  young  gentleman  must  be  de 
scended  from  an  old  servant  of  his  father's  who  was  trans 
ported  for  stealing  silver  out  of  a  shop  on  Ludgate  Hill, 
and  who  was  arrested  for  passing  himself  off  as  one  of  the 
Wychecombe  family.  They  tell  me,  Sir  Gervaise,  thai  the 
colonies  are  pretty  much  made  up  of  persons  descended 
from  that  sort  of  ancestors." 

"  I  cannot  say  that  I  have  found  it  so  ;  though,  when  I 
commanded  a  frigate,  I  served  several  yer\rs  on  the  North 
American  station.  The  larger  portion*  of  the  Americans, 
like  much  the  larger  portion  of  thfc  English,  are  humble 
laborers,  established  in  a  remote  'colony,  where  civilization 
is  not  far  advanced,  \vants  are  m  any,  aiid  means  few  ;  but, 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  121 

in  the  way  of  character,  I  am  not  certain  that  they  are  not 
quite  on  a  level  with  those  they  left  behind  them  ;  and,  as 
to  the  gentry  of  the  colonies,  I  have  seen  many  men  of  the 
best  blood  of  the  mother  country  among  them  ;  younger 
sons,  and  their  descendants,  as  a  matter  of  course,  but  of 
an  honorable  and  respected  ancestry." 

"Well,  sir,  this  surprises  me  ;  and  it  is  not  the  general 
opinion,  I  am  persuaded  !  Certainly,  it  is  not  the  fact  as 
respects  the  gentleman — stranger,  I  might  call  him,  for 
stranger  he  is  at  Wychecombe — who  has  not  the  least 
right  to  pretend  to  belong  to  us." 

"  Did  you  ever  kno\v  him  to  lay  claim  to  that  honor, 
sir?" 

"  Not  directly,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  though  I  am  told  he  has 
made  many  hints  to  that  effect,  since  he  landed  here  to  be 
cured  of  his  wound.  It  would  have  been  better  had  he 
presented  his  rights  to  the  landlord,  than  to  present  them 
to  the  tenants,  I  think  you  will  allow,  as  a  man  of  honor, 
yourself,  Sir  Gervaise  ?" 

"  I  can  approve  of  nothing  clandestine  in  matters  that 
require  open  and  fair  dealing,  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe. 
But  I  ought  to  apologize  for  thus  dwelling  on  your  family 
affairs,  which  concerns  me  only  as  I  feel  an  interest  in  the 
wishes  and  happiness  of  my  new  acquaintance,  my  excel 
lent  host." 

"  Sir  Wycherly  has  property  in  the  funds  that  is  not  en 
tailed — quite  ^£1,000  a  year,  beyond  the  estates — and  I 
know  he  has  left  a  will,"  continued  Tom  ;  who,  with  the 
short-sightedness  of  a  rogue,  flattered  himself  with  having 
made  a  favorable  impression  on  his  companion,  and  who 
was  desirous  of  making  him  useful  to  himself,  in  an  emer 
gency  that  he  felt  satisfied  must  terminate  in  the  speedy 
death  of  his  uncle.  "  Yes,  a  good  ^1,000  a  year,  in  the 
fives;  money  saved  from  his  rents,  in  a  long  life.  This 
will  probably  has  some  provision  in  favor  of  my  younger 
brothers;  and  perhaps  of  this  namesake  of  his" — Tom 
was  well  aware  that  it  devised  every  shilling,  real  and  per 
sonal,  to  himself — "for  a  kinder  heart  does  not  exist  on 
earth.  In  fact,  this  will  my  uncle  put  in  my  possession,  as 
heir-at-law,  feeling  it  due  to  my  pretensions,  I  suppose  ; 
but  I  have  never  presumed  to  look  into  it." 

Here  was  another  instance  of  excessive  finesse,  in  wiiich 
Tom  awakened  suspicion  by  his  very  efforts  to  allay  it. 
It  seemed  highly  improbable  to  Sir  Gervaise,,  that  a  man 


122  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

like  the  nephew  could  long  possess  his  uncle's  will,  and 
feel  no  desire  to  ascertain  its  contents.  The  language  of 
the  young  man  was  an  indirect  admission  that  he  might 
have  examined  the  will  if  he  would  ;  and  the  Admiral  felt 
disposed  to  suspect  that  what  he  might  thus  readily  have 
done,  he  actually  had  done.  The  dialogue,  however,  ter 
minated  here  ;  Button  just  at  that  moment  entering  the 
room  on  the  errand  on  which  he  had  been  sent  by  Admiral 
Bluewater,  and  Tom  joining  his  old  acquaintance  as  soon 
as  the  latter  made  his  appearance.  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes 
was  too  much  concerned  for  the  condition  of  his  host,  and 
had  too  many  cares  of  his  own,  to  think  deeply  or  long  on 
what  had  just  passed  between  himself  and  Tom  Wyche- 
combe.  Had  they  separated  that  night,  what  had  been 
said,  and  the  unfavorable  impressions  it  had  made,  would 
have  been  soon  forgotten  ;  but  circumstances  subsequently 
conspired  to  recall  the  whole  to  his  mind,  of  which  the  con 
sequences  will  be  related  in  the  course  of  our  narrative. 

Dutton  appeared  to  be  a  little  shocked  as  he  gazed  upon 
the  pallid  features  of  Sir  Wycherly,  and  he  was  not  sorry 
when  Tom  led  him  aside,  and  began  to  speak  confidentially 
of  the  future,  and  of  the  probable  speedy  death  of  his 
uncle.  Had  there  been  one  present,  gifted  with  the  power 
of  reading  the  thoughts  and  motives  of  men,  a  deep  dis 
gust  of  human  frailties  must  have  come  over  him,  as  these 
two  impure  spirits  betrayed  to  him  their  cupidity  and  cun 
ning.  Outwardly,  they  were  friends  mourning  over  a  mu 
tual  probable  loss  ;  while  inwardly,  Dutton  was  endeavor 
ing  to  obtain  such  a  hold  of  his  companion's  confidence  as 
might  pave  the  way  to  his  own  future  preferment  to  the 
high  and  unhoped-for  station  of  a  rich  baronet's  father-in- 
law  ;  while  Tom  thought  only  of  so  far  mystifying  the 
master,  as  to  make  use  of  him,  on  an  emergency,  as  a  wit 
ness  to  establish  his  own  claims.  The  manner  in  which  he 
endeavored  to  effect  his  object,  however,  must  be  left  to 
the  imagination  of  the  reader,  as  we  have  matters  of  greater 
moment  to  record  at  this  particular  juncture. 

From  the  time  Sir  Wycherly  was  laid  on  his  bed,  Mr. 
Rotherham  had  been  seated  at  the  sick  man's  side,  watch 
ing  the  course  of  his  attack,  and  ready  to  interpret  any  of 
the  patient's  feebly  and  indistinctly  expressed  wishes. 
We  say  indistinctly,  because  the  Baronet's  speech  was 
slightly  affected  with  that  species  of  paralysis  which  re 
duces  the  facjiltv  to  the  state  that  is  vulgarly  railed 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  123 

tongued.  Although  a  three-bottle  man,  Mr.  Rotherham 
was  far  from  being  without  his  devout  feelings,  on  occa 
sions,  discharging  all  the  clerical  functions  with  as  much 
unction  as  the  habits  of  the  country,  and  the  opinions  of 
the  day,  ordinarily  exacted  of  divines.  He  had  even  vol 
unteered  to  read  the  prayers  for  the  sick,  as  soon  as  lie 
perceived  that  the  patient's  recollection  had  returned  ; 
but  this  kind  offer  had  been  declined  by  Sir  Wycherly, 
under  the  clearer  views  of  fitness,  that  the  near  approach 
of  death  is  apt  to  give,  and  which  views  left  a  certain  con 
sciousness  that  the  party  assembled  was  not  in  the  best 
possible  condition  for  that  sacred  office.  Sir  Wycherly  re 
vived  so  much,  at  last,  as  to  look  about  him  with  increasing 
consciousness  ;  and  at  length  his  eyes  passed  slowly  over 
the  room,  scanning  each  person  singly,  and  with  marked 
deliberation. 

"I  know  you  all — now,"  said  the  kind-hearted  Baronet, 
though  always  speaking  thick,  and  with  a  little  difficulty  ; 
"am  sorry  to  give — much  trouble.  I  have — little  time  to 
spare." 

"  I  hope  not,  Sir  Wycherly,"  put  in  the  Vicar,  in  a  con 
solatory  manner  ;  "you  have  had  a  sharp  attack,  but  then 
there  is  a  good  constitution  to  withstand  it." 

"  My  time — short — feel  it  here,"  rejoined  the  patient, 
passing  his  hand  over  his  forehead. 

"  Note  that,  Button,"  whispered  Tom  Wychecombe.  "  My 
poor  uncle  intimates  himself  that  his  mind  is  a  little  shak 
en.  Under  such  circumstances,  it  would  be  cruel  to  let 
him  injure  himself  with  business." 

"  It  cannot  be  done  legally;  Mr.  Thomas.  I  should  think 
Admiral  Cakes  would  interfere  to  prevent  it." 

"  Rotherham,"  continued  the  patient,  "  I  will — settle  with 
— world  ;  then,  give — thoughts — to  God.  Have  we — guests 
— the  house  ?  Men  of  family — character?" 

"Certainly,  Sir  Wycherly;  Admiral  Cakes  is  in  the 
room,  even  ;  and  Admiral  Bluewater  is,  I  believe,  still  in 
the  house.  You  invited  both  to  pass  the  night  with  you." 

"  I  remember  it — now  ;  my  mind — still — confused  ;  "  here 
Tom  Wychecombe  again  nudged  the  master  ;  "  Sir  Gervaise 
Cakes — an  Admiral — ancient  Baronet — man  of  high  honor. 
Admiral  Bluewater,  too — relative — Lord  Bluewater  ;  gen 
tleman — universal  esteem.  You,  too,  Rotherham  ;  with 
my  dear  brother  James — St.  James — used  to  call  him — had 
been  living;  you — good  neighbor — Rotherham." 


124  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  Can  I  do  anything  to  prove  it,  my  dear  Sir  Wycherly  ? 
Nothing  would  make  me  happier  than  to  know,  and  to 
comply  with,  all  your  wishes,  at  a  moment  so  important!" 

"  Let  all  quit — room — but  yourself — head  feels  worse— I 
cannot  delay " 

"  'Tis  cruel  to  distress  my  beloved  uncle  with  business, 
or  conversation,  in  his  present  state,"  interposed  Tom 
Wychecombe,  with  emphasis,  and  in  a  slight  degree  with 
authority. 

All  not  only  felt  the  truth  of  this,  but  all  felt  that  the 
speaker,  by  his  consanguinity,  had  a  clear  right  to  inter 
fere,  in  the  manner  he  had.  Still  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  had 
great  reluctance  in  yielding  to  this  remonstrance  ;  for,  to 
the  distrust  he  had  imbibed  of  Tom  Wychecombe,  was 
added  an  impression  that  his  host  wished  to  reveal  some 
thing  of  interest,  in  connection  with  his  new  favorite,  the 
Lieutenant.  He  felt  compelled,  notwithstanding,  to  defer 
to  the  acknowledged  nephew's  better  claims,  and  he  re 
frained  from  interfering.  Fortunately,  Sir  Wycherly  was 
yet  in  a  state  to  enforce  his  own  wishes. 

"  Let  all  quit — room,"  he  repeated,  in  a  voice  that  was 
startling  by  its  unexpected  firmness,  and  equally  unex 
pected  distinctness.  "All  but  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes — Ad 
miral  Bluewater — Mr.  Rotherham.  Gentlemen — favor  to 
remain — rest  depart." 

Accustomed  to  obey  their  master's  orders,  more  espe 
cially  when  given  in  a  tone  so  decided,  the  domestics  quit 
ted  the  room,  accompanied  by  Button  ;  but  Tom  Wyche 
combe  saw  fit  to  remain,  as  if  his  presence  were  a  matter 
of  course. 

"Do  me — favor — withdraw — Mr. Wychecombe,"  resumed 
the  Baronet,  after  fixing  his  gaze  on  his  nephew  for  some 
time,  as  if  expecting  him  to  retire  without  this  request. 

"  My  beloved  uncle,  it  is  I — Thomas,  your  own  brother's 
son,  your  next  of  kin — waiting  anxiously  by  your  respected 
bedside.  Do  not — do  not  confound  me  with  strangers. 
Such  a  forgetfulness  would  break  my  heart !" 

"  Forgive   me,  nephew — but   I   wish — alone  with  these 

gentle — head — getting  confused " 

"  You  see  how  it  is,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes — you  see  how  it 
is,  Mr.  Rotherham.  Ah !  there  goes  the  coach  that  is  to 
take  Admiral  Bluewater  to  his  boat.  My  uncle  wished  for 
three  witnesses  to  something,  and  I  can  remain  as  one  of 
the  three." 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  125 

"  Is  it  your  pleasure,  Sir  Wycherly,  to  wish  to  see  us 
alone?"  asked  Sir  Gervaise,  in  a  manner  that  showed 
authority  would  be  exercised  to  enforce  his  request,  should 
the  uncle  still  desire  the  absence  of  his  nephew. 

A  sign  from  the  sick  man  indicated  the  affirmative,  and 
that  in  a  manner  too  decided  to  admit  of  mistake. 

"You  perceive,  Mr.  Wychecombe,  what  are  your  uncle's 
wishes,"  observed  Sir  Gervaise,  very  much  in  the  way  that 
a  well-bre'd  superior  intimates  to  an  inferior  the  compli 
ance  he  expects  ;  "  I  trust  his  desire  will  not  be  disregard 
ed  at  a  moment  like  this." 

"  I  am  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe's  next  of  kin,"  said 
Tom,  in  a  slightly  bullying  tone  ;  "and  no  one  has  the 
same  right  as  a  relative,  and,  I  may  say,  his  heir,  to  be  at 
his  bedside." 

"  That  depends  on  the  pleasure  of  Sir  Wycherly  Wyche 
combe  himself,  sir.  He  is  master  here  ;  and,  having  done 
me  the  honor  to  invite  me  under  his  roof  as  a  guest,  and, 
now,  having  requested  to  see  me  alone,  with  others  he  has 
expressly  named — one  of  whom  you  are  not —  I  shall  con 
ceive  it  my  duty  to  see  his  wishes  obeyed." 

This  was  said  in  the  firm,  quiet  way,  that  the  habit  of 
command  had  imparted  to  Sir  Gervaise's  manner ;  and 
Tom  began  to  see  it  might  be  dangerous  to  resist.  It  was 
important,  too,  that  one  of  the  Vice-admiral's  character 
and  station  should  have  naught  to  say  against  him,  in  the 
event  of  any  future  controversy;  and,  making  a  few  profes 
sions  of  respect,  and  of  his  desire  to  please  his  uncle,  Tom 
quitted  the  room. 

A  gleam  of  satisfaction  shot  over  the  sick  man's  counte 
nance,  as  his  nephew  disappeared  ;  and  then  his  eye  turned 
slowly  toward  the  faces  of  those  who  remained. 

"  Bluewater,"  he  said,  the  thickness  of  his  speech,  and 
the  general  difficulty  of  utterance,  seeming  to  increase  ; 
"  the  Rear-admiral — I  want  all — respectable — witnesses  in 
the  house." 

"  My  friend  has  left  us,  I  understand,"  returned  Sir  Ger 
vaise,  "  insisting  on  his  habit  of  never  sleeping  out  of  his 
ship  ;  but  Atwood  must  soon  be  back  ;  I  hope  he  will  an 
swer  !  " 

A  sign  of  assent  was  given  ;  and,  then,  there  was  the 
pause  of  a  minute  or  two,  ere  the  secretary  made  his  ap 
pearance.  As  soon,  however,  as  he  had  returned,  the  three 
collected  around  the  Baronet's  bed,  not  without  some  of 


126  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

the  weakrtess  which  men  are  supposed  to  inherit  from  their 
common  mother  Eve,  in  connection  with  the  motive  for 
this  singular  proceeding  of  the  Baronet. 

"  Sir  Gervaise — Rotherham — Mr.  Atwood,"  slowly  re 
peated  the  patient,  his  eye  passing  from  the  face  of  one  to 
that  of  another,  as  he  uttered  the  name  of  each  ;  "  three 
witnesses — that  will  do — Thomas  said — must  have  three — 
three  good  names." 

"  What  can  we  do  to  serve  you,  Sir  Wycherly  ?  "  inquired 
the  Admiral,  with  real  interest.  "You  have  only  to  name 
your  requests,  to  have  them  faithfully  attended  to." 

"  Old  Sir  Michael  Wychecombe,  Kt. — two  wives  Mar 
gery  and  Joan.  Two  wives  —  two  sons — half-blood — 
Thomas,  James,  Charles,  and  Gregory,  whole — Sir  Reginald 
Wychecombe,  half.  Understand — hope — gentlemen  ?  " 

"  This  is  not  being  very  clear,  certainly,"  whispered  Sir 
Gervaise  ;  "but,  perhaps,  by  getting  hold  of  the  other  end 
of  the  rope,  we  may  under-run  it,  as  we  sailors  say,  and 
come  at  the  meaning — we  will  let  the  poor  man  proceed, 
therefore.  Quite  plain,  my  dear  sir,  and  what  have  you 
next  to  tell  us.  You  left  off  with  saying  only  half  about 
Sir  Reginald." 

"  Half-blood  ;  only  half — Tom  and  the  rest,  whole.  Sir 
Reginald,  no  nullius — young  Tom,  a  nullius" 

"A  nullius,  Mr.  Rotherham  !  You  understand  Latin,  sir  ; 
what  can  a  nullius  mean  ?  No  such  rope  in  the  ship,  hey, 
Atwood  ?  " 

"  Nullius,  or  nullius,  as  it  ought  sometimes  to  be  pro 
nounced,  is  the  genitive  case,  singular,  of  the  pronoun  nitl- 
lus  ;  nullus,  nulla,  nullum;  which  means,  'no  man,'  'no 
woman,'  'no  thing.'  Nullius  means,  'of  no  man,'  'of  no 
woman,'  '  of  no  thing.'  " 

The  Vicar  gave  this  explanation,  much  in  the  way  a  ped 
agogue  would  have  explained  the  matter  to  a  class. 

"Aye,  aye — any  school-boy  could  have  told  that  which 
is  the  first  form  learning.  But  what  the  devil  can  '  Nom. 
nullus,  nulla,  nullum  ;  gen.  nullius,  nullius,  nullius,'  have  to  do 
with  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  the  nephew  and  heir  of  the 
present  Baronet  ? " 

"  That  is  more  than  I  can  inform  you,  Sir  Gervaise,"  an 
swered  the  Vicar,  stiffly  ;  "  but  for  the  Latin,  I  will  take 
upon  myself  to  answer,  that  it  is  good." 

Sir  Gervaise  was  too  well-bred  to  laugh,  but  he  found  it 
difficult  to  suppress  a  smile. 


THE    TWO  A 


127 


"Well,  Sir  Wycherly,"  resumed^jfe^fcc-admiral,  "this 
is  quite  plain  —  Sir  Reginald  is  only  haK^\$hile  your  nephew 
Tom,  and  the  rest,  are  whole  —  Margery  and  Joan,  and  all 
that.  Any  thing  more  to  tell  us,  my  dear  sir  ?  " 

"  Tom  not  whole  —  nullus,  I  wish  to  say.  Sir  Reginald 
half  —  no  null  us" 

"  This  is  like  being  at  sea  a  week,  without  getting  a 
sight  of  the  sun  !  I  am  all  adrift,  now,  gentlemen." 

"  Sir  Wycherly  does  not  attend  to  his  cases,"  put  in  At- 
wood,  dryly.  "  At  one  time,  he  is  in  the  genitive,  and  then 
he  gets  back  to  the  nominative  ;  which  is  leaving  us  in  the 
vocative." 

"Come,  come,  Atwood,  none  of  your  gunroom  wit,  on 
an  occasion  so  solemn  as  this.  My  dear  Sir  Wycherly, 
have  you  anything  more  to  tell  us  ?  I  believe  we  perfectly 
understand  you,  now.  Tom  is  not  whole  ;  you  wish  to  say 
millus,  and  not  to  say  nitllius.  Sir  Reginald  is  only  half, 
but  he  is  not  nullus" 

"  Yes,  sir  —  that  is  it,"  returned  the  old  man,  smiling. 
"  Half,  but  no  nullus.  Change  my  mind  —  seen  too  much 
of  the  other,  lately  —  Tom,  my  nephew  —  want  to  make  him 
my  heir." 

"This  is  getting  clearer,  out  of  all  question.  You  wish 
to  make  your  nephew,  Tom,  your  heir.  But  the  law  does 
that  already,  does  it  not,  my  dear  sir  ?  Mr.  Baron  Wyche- 
combe  was  the  next  brother  of  the  baronet  ;  was  he  not, 
Mr.  Rotherham  ?  " 

"  So  I  have  always  understood,  sir;  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Wychecombe  must  be  the  heir-at-law." 

"No  —  no;  nullus  —  nullus"  repeated  Sir  Wycherly,  with 
so  much  eagerness  as  to  make  his  voice  nearly  indistinct  ; 
"Sir  Reginald—  Sir  Reginald—  Sir  Reginald." 

"And  pray,  Mr.  Rotherham,  who  may  this  Sir  Reginald 
be  ?  Some  old  baronet  of  the  family,  I  presume." 

"  Not  at  all,  sir  ;  it  is  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  of  Wy- 
checombe-Regis,  Herts  ;  a  baronet  of  Queen  Anne's  time, 
and  a  descendant  from  a  cadet  of  this  family,  I  am  told." 

"This  is  getting  on  soundings  ;  I  had  taken  it  into  my 
head  this  Sir  Reginald  was  some  old  fellow  of  the  reign  of 
one  of  the  Plantagenets.  Well,  Sir  Wycherly,  do  you  wish 
us  to  send  an  express  into  Hertfordshire,  in  quest  of  Sir 
Reginald  Wychecombe,  who  is  quite  likely  your  executor? 
Do  not  give  yourself  the  pain  to  speak  ;  a  sign  will  an 
swer." 


128  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

Sir  Wycherly  seemed  struck  with  the  suggestion,  which, 
the  reader  will  readily  understand  was  far  from  being  his 
real  meaning;  and  then  he  smiled,  and  nodded  his  head 
in  approbation. 

Sir  Gervaise,  with  the  promptitude  of  a  man  of  business, 
turned  to  the  table  where  the  Vicar  had  written  notes  to 
the  medical  men,  and  dictated  a  short  letter  to  his  secre 
tary.  This  letter  he  signed,' and  in  five  minutes  Atwood 
left  the  room,  to  order  it  to  be  immediately  forwarded  by 
express.  When  this  was  done,  the  Admiral  rubbed  his 
hands,  in  satisfaction,  like  a  man  who  felt  he  had  got  him 
self  cleverly  out  of  a  knotty  difficulty. 

"  I  don't  see,  after  all,  Mr.  Rotherham,"  he  observed  to 
the  Vicar,  as  they  stood  together  in  a  corner  of  the  room, 
waiting  the  return  of  the  secretary  ;  "  what  he  lugged  in 
that  school-boy  Latin  for — nullus,  nulla,  nullum  !  Can  you 
possibly  explain  that  ?  " 

"  Not  unless  it  was  Sir  Wycherly's  desire  to  say  that  Sir 
Reginald,  being  descended  from  a  younger  son,  was  no 
body — as  yet,  had  no  woman — and  I  believe  he  is  not 
married — and  was  poor,  or  had  '  nothing.'  " 

"And  is  Sir  Wycherly  such  a  desperate  scholar,  that  he 
would  express  himself  in  this  hieroglyphical  manner  on 
what  I  fear  will  prove  his  death-bed  ? " 

"  Why,  Sir  Gervaise,  Sir  Wycherly  was  educated  like  all 
other  young  gentlemen,  but  has  forgotton  most  of  his 
classics,  in  the  course  of  a  long  life  of  ease  and  affluence 
Is  it  not  probable,  now,  that  his  recollection  has  returned 
to  him  suddenly,  in  consequence  of  this  affection  of  the 
head  ?  I  think  I  have  read  of  some  curious  instances  of 
these  reviving  memories  on  a  death-bed,  or  after  a  fit  of 
sickness." 

"Aye,  that  you  may  have  done!"  exclaimed  Sir  Ger 
vaise,  smiling;  "and  poor,  good  Sir  Wycherly  must  have 
begun  afresh,  at  the  very  place  where  he  left  off.  But 
here  is  Atwood  again." 

After  a  short  consultation,  the  three  chosen  witnesses 
returned  to  the  bedside,  the  Admiral  being  spokes 
man. 

"The  express  will  be  off  in  ten  minutes,  Sir  Wycherly," 
he  said  ;  "and  you  may  hope  to  see  your  relatives  in  the 
course  of  the  next  two  or  three  days." 

"  Too  late — too  late,"  murmured  the  patient  who  had  an 
inward  consciousness  of  his  true  situation;  "too  late — 


THE    Tll'O   ADMIRALS.  129 

turn  the  will  round — Sir  Reginald,  Tom ;  Tom,  Sir  Regi 
nald.  Turn  the  will  round." 

"Turn  the  will  round  ? — this  if  very  explicit,  gentlemen, 
to  those  who  can  understand  it.  Sir  Reginald,  Tom  ;  Tom, 
Sir  Reginald.  At  all  events,  it  is  clear  that  his  mind  is 
dwelling  on  the  disposition  of  his  property,  since  he  speaks 
of  wills.  Atwood,  make  a  note  of  these  words,  that  there 
need  be  no  mistake,  Wonder  he  has  said  nothing  of  our 
brave  young  lieutenant,  his  namesake.  There  can  be  no 
harm,  Mr.  Rotherham,  in  just  mentioning  that  fine  fellow 
to  him,  in  a  moment  like  this  ? " 

"  I  see  none,  sir.  It  is  our  duty  to  remind  the  sick  of 
their  duties." 

"Do  you  not  wish  to  see  your  young  namesake  Lieuten 
ant  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  Sir  Wycherly  ?"  asked  the  ad 
miral  ;  sufficiently  emphasizing  the  Christian  name.  "He 
must  be  in  the  house,  and  I  dare  say  I  would  be  happy  to 
obey  your  wishes." 

"I  hope  he  is  well,  sir — fine  young  gentleman — honor 
to  the  name,  sir." 

"Quite  true,  Sir  Wycherly  ;  and  honor  to  the  nation,  too." 

'Didn't  know  Virginia  was  a  nation — so  much  the  bet 
ter — fine  young  Virginian,  sir." 

"  Of  your  family,  no  doubt,  Sir  Wycherly,  as  well  as  of 
your  name,"  added  the  admiral,  who  secretly  suspected  the 
young  sailor  of  being  a  son  of  the  Baronet,  notwithstand 
ing  all  he  had  heard  to  the  contrary.  "  An  exceedingly 
fine  young  man,  and  an  honor  to  any  house  in  England!" 

"  I  suppose  they  have  houses  in  Virginia — bad  climate  ; 
houses  necessary.  No  relative,  sir,  probably  a  nullus. 
Many  Wychecombes,  mdluses.  Tom,  a  nullus — this  young 
gentleman  a  nullus — Wychecombes  of  Surrey,  all  nulluses 
— Sir  Reginald,  no  nullus ;  but  a  half — Thomas,  James, 
Charles,  and  Gregory,  all  whole.  My  brother,  Baron 
Wychecombe,  told  me — before  he  died." 

"Whole  what,  Sir  Wycherly?"  asked  the  Admiral,  a  lit 
tle  vexed  at  the  obscurity  of  the  other's  language. 

"  Blood — whole  blood,  sir.  Capital  law.  Sir  Gervaise  ; 
had  it  from  the  Baron — first  hand." 

Now,  one  of  the  peculiarities  of  England  is,  that,  in  the 
division  of  labor,  few  know  anything  material  about  the 
law,  except  the  professional  men.  Even  their  knowledge 
is  divided  and  sub-divided,  in  a  way  that  makes  a  very  fair 
division  of  profit.  Thus  the  conveyancer  is  not  a  barrister  ; 


1 30  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

the  barrister  is  not  an  attorney  ;  and  the  chancery  practi 
tioner  would  be  an  unsafe  adviser  for  one  of  the  purely 
law  courts.  That  particular  division  of  the  common  law, 
which  Baron  Wychecombe  had  mentioned  to  his  brother, 
as  the  rule  of  the  half-blood,  has  been  set  aside,  or  modi 
fied,  by  statute,  within  the  last  ten  years  ;  but  few  English 
laymen  would  be  at  all  likely  to  know  of  such  a  law  of  de 
scent  even  when  it  existed  ;  for  while  it  did  violence  to 
every  natural  sentiment  of  right,  it  lay  hidden  in  the  se 
crets  of  the  profession.  Were  a  case  stated  to  a  thousand 
intelligent  Englishman,  who  had  not  read  law,  in  which 
it  was  laid  down  that  brothers,  by  different  mothers, 
though  equally  sons  of  the  founder  of  the  estate,  could 
not  take  from  each  other,  unless  by  devise  or  entail,  the 
probability  is  that  quite  nine  in  ten  would  deny  the  exist 
ence  of  any  rule  so  absurd  ;  and  this,  too,  under  the  in 
fluence  of  feelings  that  were  creditable  to  their  sense  of 
natural  justice. 

Nevertheless,  such  was  one  of  the  important  provisions 
of  the  "  perfection  of  reason,"  until  the  recent  reforms  in 
English  law  ;  and  it  has  struck  us  as  surprising,  that  an  in 
genious  writer  of  fiction,  who  has  recently  charmed  his 
readers  with  a  tale,  the  interest  of  which  turns  principally 
on  the  vicissitudes  of  practice,  did  not  bethink  him  of  this 
peculiar  feature  of  his  country's  laws  ;  inasmuch  as  it 
would  have  supplied  mystery  sufficient  for  a  dozen  ordi 
nary  romances,  and  improbabilities  enough  for  a  hundred. 
That  Sir  Gervaise  and  his  companions  should  be  ignorant 
of  the  "law  of  the  half-blood,"  is  consequently  very  much 
a  matter  of  course  ;  and  no  one  ought  to  be  surprised  that 
the  worthy  Baronet's  repeated  allusions  to  the  "whole," 
and  the  "half,"  were  absolutely  enigmas,  which  neither 
had  the  knowledge  necessary  to  explain. 

"What  can  the  poor  fellow  mean  ?"  demanded  the  Ad 
miral,  more  concerned  than  he  remembered  ever  before  to 
have  been,  on  any  similar  occasion.  "  One  could  wish  to 
serve  him  as  much  as  possible,  but  all  this  about  l  nullits,' 
and  'whole-blood,'  and  'half,'  is  so  much  gibberish  to  me 
— can  you  make  anything  of  it — hey,  Atwood  ?" 

"  Upon  my  word,  Sir  Gervaise,  it  seems  a  matter  for  a 
judge,  rather  than  for  man-of-war's  men,  like  ourselves." 

"  It  certainly  can  have  no  connection  with  this  rising  of 
the  Jacobites  ?  That  is  an  affair  likely  to  trouble  a  loyal 
subject,  in  his  last  moments,  Mr.  Rotherham  ! " 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  131 

"  Sir  Wycherly's  habits  and  age  forbid  the  idea  that  he 
knows  more  of  that,  sir,  than  is  known  to  us  all.  His  re 
quest,  however,  to  4turn  the  will  round,'  I  conceive  to  be 
altogether  explicit.  Several  capital  treatises  have  appeared 
lately  on  the  '  human  will,'  and  I  regret  to  say,  my  honored 
friend  and  patron  has  not  always  been  quite  as  orthodox 
on  that  point  as  I  could  wish.  I,  therefore,  consider  his 
words  as  evidence  of  a  hearty  repentance." 

Sir  Gervaise  looked  about  him,  as  w^is  his  habit  when 
any  droll  idea  crossed  his  mind  ;  but  again  suppressing  the 
inclination  to  smile,  he  answered  wTith  suitable  gravity : 

"  I  understand  you,  sir  ;  you  think  all  these  inexplicable 
terms  are  connected  with  Sir  Wycherly's  religious  feelings. 
You  may  certainly  be  right,  for  it  exceeds  my  knowledge 
to  connect  them  with  any  thing  else.  I  wish,  notwith 
standing,  he  had  not  disowned  this  noble  young  lieutenant 
of  ours  !  Is  it  quite  certain  the  young  man  is  a  Vir 
ginian  ?" 

"  So  I  have  always  understood  it,  sir.  He  has  never 
been  known  in  this  part  of  England,  until  he  was  landed 
from  a  frigate  in  the  roads,  to  be  cured  of  a  serious  wound. 
I  think  none  of  Sir  Wycherly's  allusions  have  the  least 
reference  to  ///;//." 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  now  joined  his  hands  behind  his 
back,  and  walked  several  times,  quarter-deck  fashion,  to 
and  fro,  in  the  room.  At  each  turn  his  eyes  glanced  to 
ward  the  bed,  and  he  ever  found  the  gaze  of  the  sick  man 
anxiously  fastened  on  himself.  This  satisfied  him  that  re 
ligion  had  nothing  to  do  with  his  host's  manifest  desire  to 
make  himself  understood  ;  and  his  own  trouble  was  greatly 
increased.  It  seemed  to  him  as  if  the  dying  man  was 
making  incessant  appeals  to  his  aid,  without  its  being  in 
his  power  to  afford  it.  It  was  not  possible  for  a  generous 
man,  like  Sir  Gervaise,  to  submit  to  such  a  feeling  with 
out  an  effort ;  and  he  soon  went  to  the  side  of  the  bed, 
again,  determined  to  bring  the  affair  to  some  intelligible 
issue. 

"  Do  you  think,  Sir  Wycherly,  you  could  write  a  few 
lines,  if  we  put  pen,  ink,  and  paper  before  you  ? "  he  asked, 
as  a  sort  of  desperate  remedy. 

"  Impossible — can  hardly  see  ;  have  got  no  strength — stop 
— will  try — if  you  please." 

Sir  Gervaise  was  delighted  with  this,  and  he  immediately 
directed  his  companions  to  lend  their  assistance.  At  wood 


132  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

and  the  Vicar  bolstered  the  old  man  up,  and  the  Admiral 
put  the  writing  materials  before  him,  substituting  a  large 
quarto  Bible  for  a  desk.  Sir  Wycherly,  after  several  ab 
ortive  attempts,  finally  got  the  pen  in  his  hand,  and  with 
great  difficulty  traced  six  or  seven  nearly  illegible  words, 
running  the  line  diagonally  across  the  paper.  By  this  time 
his  powers  failed  him  altogether,  and  he  sank  back,  drop 
ping  the  pen,  and  closing  his  eyes  in  a  partial  insensibility. 
At  this  critical  instant,  the  surgeon  entered,  and  at  once 
put  an  end  to  the  interview,  by  taking  charge  of  the  patient, 
and  directing  all  but  one  or  two  necessary  attendants  to 
quit  the  room. 

The  three  chosen  witnesses  of  what  had  just  passed  re 
paired  together  to  a  parlor  ;  Atwood,  by  a  sort  of  mechan 
ical  habit,  taking  with  him  the  paper  on  which  the  Baronet 
had  scrawled  the  words  just  mentioned.  This,  by  a  sort  of 
mechanical  use,  also,  he  put  into  the  hands  of  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,  as  soon  as  they  entered  the  room  ;  much  as  he  would 
have  laid  before  his  superior  an  order  to  sign,  or  a  copy  of 
a  letter  to  the  secretary  of  the  Navy  Board. 

"This  is  as  bad  as  the  'nullus!'"  exclaimed  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,  after  endeavoring  to  decipher  the  scrawl  in  vain. 
"What  is  this  first  word,  Mr.  Rotherham — '  Irish,'  is  it  not 
— hey,  Atwood  ? " 

"  I  believe  it  is  no  more  than  '  I-n,'  stretched  over  much 
more  paper  than  is  necessary." 

"  You  are  right  enough,  Vicar  ;  and  the  next  word  is 
*  the,'  though  it  looks  like  a  cJievaux  de  frise — what  follows  ? 
It  looks  like  '  man-of-war,'  Atwood  ?  " 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  this  first  letter  is 
what  I  should  call  an  elongated  n — the  next  is  certainly  an 
a — the  third  looks  like  the  waves  of  a  river — ah  !  it  is  an  ;// 
— and  the  last  is  an  e — n-a-m-e — that  makes  'name,'  gentle 
men." 

"Yes,"  eagerly  added  the  Vicar,  "and  the  two  next 
words  are  'of  God.'  " 

"  Then  it  is  religion,  after  all,  that  was  on  the  poor  man's 
mind  ! "  exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise  in  a  slight  degree  disap 
pointed,  if  the  truth  must  be  told.  "What's  this  ?  A-m-e-n 
—'Amen  ' — why,  its  a  sort  of  prayer." 

"  This  is  the  form  in  which  it  is  usual  to  commence  wills, 
I  believe,  Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  the  secretary,  who  had 
written  many  a  one  on  board  ship,  in  his  day.  "  *  In  the 
name  of  God,  Amen.'  " 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 


'33 


"  By  George,  you're  right,  Atwood  ;  and  the  poor  man 
was  trying  all  the  while,  to  let  us  know  how  he  wished  to 
dispose  of  his  property  !  What  could  he  mean  by  the 
null  us—  it  is  possible  that  the  old  gentleman  has  nothing  to 
leave  ? " 

"  I'll  answer  for  it,  Sir  Gervaise,  that  is  not  the  true  ex 
planation,"  the  Vicar  replied.  "  Sir  Wycherly's  affairs  are 
in  the  best  order  ;  and,  besides  the  estate,  he  has  a  large 
sum  in  the  funds." 

"  Well,  gentlemen,  we  can  do  no  more  to-night.  A  medi 
cal  man  is  already  in  the  house,  and  Bluewater  will  send 
ashore  one  or  two  others  from  the  fleet.  In  the  morning, 
if  Sir  Wycherly  is  in  a  state  to  converse,  this  matter  shall 
be  attended  to." 

The  party  now  separated  :  a  bed  being  provided  for  the 
Vicar,  and  the  Admiral  and  his  secretary  retiring  to  their 
respective  rooms. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Bid  physicians  talk  our  veins  to  temper, 
And  with  an  argument  new-set  a  pulse  ; 
Then  think,  my  lord,  of  reasoning  into  love. — YOUNG. 

WHILE  the  scene  just  related  took  place  in  the  chamber 
of  a  sick  man,  Admiral  Bluewater,  Mrs.  Button,  and  Mil 
dred  left  the  house,  in  the  old  family-coach.  The  Rear- 
admiral  had  pertinaciously  determined  to  adhere  to  his 
practice  of  sleeping  in  his  ship  ;  and  the  manner  in  which 
he  had  offered  seats  to  his  two  fair  companions — for  Mrs. 
Button  still  deserved  to  be  thus  termed — has  already  been 
seen.  The  motive  was  simply  to  remove  them  from  any 
further  brutal  exhibitions  of  Button's  cupidity,  while  he 
continued  in  his  present  humor  ;  and,  thus  influenced,  it  is 
not  probable  that  the  gallant  old  sailor  would  be  likely  to 
dwell,  more  than  was  absolutely  necessary,  on  the  un 
pleasant  scene  of  which  he  had  been  a  witness.  In  fact, 
no  allusion  was  made  to  it,  during  the  quarter  of  an  hour 
the  party  was  driving  from  the  Hall  to  the  station-house. 
They  all  spoke,  with  regret — Mildred  with  affectionate 
tenderness,  even — of  poor  Sir  Wycherly  ;  and  several  an 
ecdotes,  indicative  of  his  goodness  of  heart,  were  eagerly 
related  to  Bluewater,  by  the  two  females,  as  the  carriage 
moved  heavily  along.  In  the  time  mentioned,  the  vehicle 


I34  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

drew  up  before  the  door  of  the  cottage,  and  all  three 
alighted. 

If  the  morning  of  that  day  had  been  veiled  in  mist,  the 
sun  had  set  in  as  cloudless  a  sky  as  is  often  arched  above 
the  island  of  Great  Britain.  The  night  was  what  in  that 
region  is  termed  a  clear  moonlight.  It  was  certainly  not 
the  mimic  day  that  is  so  often  enjoyed  in  purer  atmos 
pheres,  but  the  panorama  of  the  headland  was  clothed  in 
a  soft,  magical  sort  of  semi-distinctness,  that  rendered  ob 
jects  sufficiently  obvious,  and  exceedingly  beautiful.  The 
rounded,  shorn  swells  of  the  land  hove  upward  to  the  eye, 
verdant  and  smooth  ;  while  the  fine  oaks  of  the  park 
formed  a  shadowy  background  to  the  picture,  inland.  Sea 
ward,  the  ocean  was  glittering,  like  a  reversed  plane  of  the 
firmament,  far  as  eye  could  reach.  If  our  own  hemi 
sphere,  or  rather  this  latitude,  may  boast  of  purer  skies 
than  are  enjoyed  by  the  mother  country,  the  latter  has  a 
vast  superiority  in  the  tint  of  the  water.  While  the  whole 
American  coast  is  bounded  by  a  dull-looking  sheet  of  sea- 
green,  the  deep  blue  of  the  wide  ocean  appears  to  be  car 
ried  close  home  to  the  shores  of  Europe.  This  glorious  tint, 
from  which  the  term  "ultramarine  "  has  been  derived,  is 
most  remarkable  in  the  Mediterranean,  that  sea  of  de 
lights,  but  is  met  with  all  along  the  rock-bound  coasts  of 
the  peninsula  of  Spain  and  Portugal,  extending  through 
the  British  Channel,  until  it  is  in  a  measure  lost  on  the 
shoals  of  the  North  Sea,  to  be  revived,  however,  in  the  pro 
found  depths  of  the  ocean  that  laves  the  wild,  romantic 
coast  of  Norway. 

"  'Tis  a  glorious  night  ! "  exclaimed  Bluewater,  as  he 
handed  Mildred,  the  last,  from  the  carriage  ;  "and  one  can 
hardly  wish  to  enter  a  cot,  let  it  swing  ever  so  lazily." 

"  Sleep  is  out  of  the  question,"  returned  Mildred,  sor 
rowfully.  "  These  are  nights  in  which  even  the  weary 
are  reluctant  to  lose  their  consciousness ;  but  who  can 
sleep  while  there  is  uncertainty  about  dear  Sir  Wycherly  ?" 

"I  rejoice  to  hear  you  say  this,  Mildred" — for  so  the 
Admiral  had  unconsciously,  and  unrepelled,  begun  to  call 
his  sweet  companion — "  I  rejoice  to  hear  you  say  this,  for 
I  am  an  inveterate  star-gazer  and  moon-ite  ;  and  I  shall 
hope  to  persuade  you  and  Mrs.  Button  to  waste  yet  an 
other  hour  with  me,  in  walking  on  this  height.  Ah  !  yon 
der  is  Sam  Yoke,  my  coxswain,  waiting  to  report  the  barge  ; 
I  can  send  Sir  Gervaise's  message  to  the  surgeons,  by  dep- 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  135 

uty,  and  there  will  be  no  occasion  for  my  hastening  from 
this  lovely  spot,  and  pleasant  company." 

The  orders  were  soon  given  to  the  coxswain.  A  dozen 
boats,  it  would  seem,  were  in  waiting  for  officers  ashore, 
notwithstanding  the  lateness  of  the  hour  ;  and  directions 
were  sent  for  two  of  them  to  pull  off  and  obtain  the  med 
ical  men. 

The  coach  was  sent  round  to  receive  the  latter,  and 
then  all  was  tranquil,  again,  on  the  height.  Mrs.  Button 
entered  the  house,  to  attend  to  some  of  her  domestic  con 
cerns,  while  the  Rear-admiral  took  the  arm  of  Mildred, 
and  they  walked  together  to  the  verge  of  the  cliffs. 

A  fairer  moonlight  picture  seldom  offered  itself  to  a 
seaman's  eye  than  that  which  now  lay  before  the  sight  of 
Admiral  Bluewater  and  Mildred.  Beneath  them  rode  the 
fleet ;  sixteen  sail  of  different  rigs,  eleven  of  which,  how 
ever,  were  two-decked  ships  of  the  largest  size  then  known 
in  naval  warfare  ;  and  all  of  which  were  in  that  perfect 
order  that  an  active  and  intelligent  commander  knows 
how  to  procure,  even  from  the  dilatory  and  indifferent. 
If  Admiral  Bluewater  was  conspicuous  in  manoeuvring  a 
fleet,  and  in  rendering  every  vessel  of  a  line  that  extended 
a  league  efficient,  and  that,  too,  in  her  right  place,  Sir 
Gervaise  Oakes  had  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
best  seamen,  in  the  ordinary  sense  of  the  word,  in  Eng 
land.  No  vessel  under  his  command  ever  had  a  lubberly 
look  ;  and  no  ship  that  had  any  sailing  in  her  failed  to 
have  it  brought  out  of  her.  The  Vice-admiral  was  familiar 
with  that  all-important  fact — one  that  members  equally  of 
Congress  and  of  Parliament  are  so  apt  to  forget,  or  rather 
not  to  know  at  all — that  the  efficiency  of  a  whole  fleet,  as 
a  fleet,  is  necessarily  brought  down  to  the  level  of  its  worst 
ships.  Of  little  avail  is  it,  that  four  or  five  vessels  of  a 
squadron  sail  fast  and  work  well,  if  the  eight  or  ten  that 
remain  behave  badly,  and  are  dull.  A  separation  of  the 
vessels  is  the  inevitable  consequence,  when  the  properties 
of  all  are  thoroughly  tried  ;  and  the  division  of  a  force  is 
the  first  step  towards  its  defeat  ;  as  its  proper  concentra 
tion  is  a  leading  condition  of  victory.  As  the  poorer  ves 
sels  cannot  imitate  the  better,  the  good  are  compelled  to 
regulate  their  movements  by  the  bad  ;  which  is  at  once  es 
sentially  bringing  down  the  best  ships  of  a  fleet  to  the 
level  of  its  worst ;  the  proposition  with  which  we  com 
menced. 


136  THE    TWO  ADMJKALS. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  was  so  great  a  favorite  that  all  he 
asked  was  usually  conceded  to  him.  One  of  his  condi 
tions  was,  that  his  vessels  should  sail  equally  well ;  "  If 
you  give  me  fast  ships,"  he  said,  u  I  can  overtake  the 
enemy  ;  if  dull,  the  enemy  can  overtake  me  ;  and  I  leave 
you  to  say  which  course  will  be  most  likely  to  bring  on 
an  action.  At  any  rate,  give  me  consorts  ;  not  one  flyer 
and  one  drag,  but  vessels  that  can  keep  within  hail  of 
each  other,  without  anchoring."  The  admiralty  professed 
every  desire  to  oblige  the  gallant  commander  ;  and,  as  he 
was  resolved  never  to  quit  the  Plantagenet  until  she  was 
worn  out,  it  was  indispensably  necessary  to  find  as  many 
fast  vessels  as  possible,  to  keep  her  company.  The  result 
was  literally  a  fleet  of  "horses,"  as  Galleygo  used  to  call 
it  ;  and  it  was  generally  said  in  the  service  that  "  Oakes 
had  a  squadron  of  flyers,  if  not  a  flying-squadron." 

Vessels  like  these  just  mentioned  are  usually  symmet 
rical  and  graceful  to  the  eye,  as  well  as  fast.  This  fact 
was  apparent  to  Mildred,  accustomed  as  she  was  to  the 
sight  of  ships  ;  and  she  ventured  to  express  as  much,  after 
she  and  her  companion  had  stood  quite  a  minute  on  the 
cliff,  gazing  at  the  grand  spectacle  beneath  them. 

"  Your  vessels  look  even  handsomer  than  common,  Ad 
miral  Bluewater,"  she  said,  "though  a  ship,  to  me,  is  al 
ways  an  attractive  sight." 

"  This  is  because  they  are  handsomer  than  common,  my 
pretty  critic.  Vice-admiral  Oakes  is  an  officer  who  will 
no  more  tolerate  an  ugly  ship  in  his  fleet,  than  a  peer  of 
the  realm  will  marry  any  woman  but  one  who  is  hand 
some  ;  unless,  indeed,  she  happen  to  be  surpassingly 
rich." 

"  I  have  heard  that  men  are  accustomed  to  lose  their 
hearts  under  such  an  influence,"  said  Mildred,  laughing, 
"but  I  did  not  know  before,  that  they  were  ever  frank 
enough  to  avow  it  !  " 

"  The  knowledge  has  been  imparted  by  a  prudent  mother, 
I  suppose,"  returned  the  Rear-admiral,  in  a  musing  man 
ner  ;  "  I  wish  I  stood  sufficiently  in  the  parental  relation 
to  you,  my  young  friend,  to  venture  to  give  a  little  advice, 
also.  Never,  before,  did  I  feel  so  strong  a  wish  to  warn  a 
human  being  of  a  great  danger  that  I  fear  is  impending 
over  her,  could  I  presume  to  take  the  liberty." 

"  It  is  not  a  liberty,  but  a  duty,  to  warn  any  one  of  a 
danger  that  is  known  to  ourselves,  and  not  to  the  person 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  137 

who  incurs  the  risk.  At  least  so  it  appears  in  the  eyes  of 
a  very  young  girl." 

"  Yes,  if  the  danger  was  of  falling  from  these  cliffs,  or  of 
setting  fire  to  a  house,  or  of  any  other  visible  calamity. 
The  case  is  different,  when  young  ladies,  and  setting  fire 
to  the  heart,  are  concerned." 

"  Certainly,  I  can  perceive  the  distinction,"  answered 
Mildred,  after  a  short  pause;  "and  can  understand  that 
the  same  person  who  would  not  scruple  to  give  the  alarm 
against  any  physical  danger,  would  hesitate  even  at  hint 
ing  at  one  of  a  moral  character.  Nevertheless,  if  Admiral 
Bluewater  thinks  a  simple  girl,  like  me,  of  sufficient  im 
portance  to  take  the  trouble  to  interest  himself  in  her  wel 
fare,  I  should  hope  he  would  not  shrink  from  pointing  out 
this  danger.  It  is  a  terrible  word  to  sleep  on  ;  and  I  con 
fess,  besides  a  little  uneasiness,  to  a  good  deal  of  curiosity 
to  know  more." 

"  This  is  said,  Mildred,  because  you  are  unaccustomed 
to  the  shocks  which  the  tongue  of  rude  man  may  give  your 
sensitive  feelings." 

"  Unaccustomed  !"  said  Mildred,  trembling  so  that  the 
weakness  was  apparent  to  her  companion.  "  Unaccus 
tomed  !  Alas  !  Admiral  Bluewater,  can  this  be  so,  after 
what  you  have  seen  and  heard  !  " 

"  Pardon  me,  dear  child  ;  nothing  was  farther  from  my 
thoughts,  than  to  wish  to  revive  those  unpleasant  recollec 
tions.  If  I  thought  I  should  be  forgiven,  I  might  venture, 
yet,  to  reveal  my  secret  ;  for  never  before — though  I  can 
not  tell  the  reason  of  so  sudden  and  so  extraordinary  an 
interest  in  one  who  is  almost  a  stranger " 

"  No,  no — not  a  stranger,  dear  sir.  After  all  that  has 
passed  to-day;  after  you  have  been  admitted,  though  it 
were  by  accident,  to  one  most  sacred  secret  ;  after  all  that 
was  said  in  the  carriage,  and  the  terrible  scenes  my  be 
loved  mother  went  through  in  your  presence  so  many  years 
since,  you  can  never  be  a  stranger  to  us,  whatever  may  be 
your  own  desire  to  fancy  yourself  one." 

"  Girl,  you  do  not  fascinate — you  do  not  charm  me,  but 
you  bind  me  to  you  in  a  way  I  did  not  think  it  in  the 
power  of  any  human  being  to  subjugate  my  feelings !  " 

This  was  said  with  so  much  energy,  that  Mildred  dropped 
the  arm  she  held,  and  actually  recoiled  a  step,  if  not  in 
alarm,  at  least  in  surprise.  But,  on  looking  up  into  the 
face  of  her  companion,  and  perceiving  large  tears  actually 


138  THE    TirO   ADMJRALS. 

glistening  on  his  cheek,  and  seeing  the  hair  that  exposure 
and  mental  cares  had  whitened  more  than  time,  all  her 
confidence  returned,  and  she  resumed  the  place  she  had 
abandoned,  of  her  own  accord,  and  as  naturally  as  a  daugh 
ter  would  have  clung  to  the  side  of  a  father. 

"  I  am  sure,  sir,  my  gratitude  for  this  interest  ought  to 
be  quite  equal  to  the  honor  it  does  me,"  Mildred  said, 
earnestly.  "  And,  now,  Admiral  Bluewater,  do  not  hesi 
tate  to  speak  to  me  with  the  frankness  that  a  parent  might 
use.  I  will  listen  with  the  respect  and  deference  of  a 
daughter." 

"  Then  do  listen  to  what  I  have  to  say,  and  make  no 
answer,  if  you  find  yourself  wounded  at  the  freedom  I  am 
taking.  It  would  seem  that  there  was  but  one  object  on 
which  a  man,  old  fellow  or  young  fellow,  can  speak  to  a 
lovely  young  girl,  when  he  gets  her  alone,  under  the  light 
of  a  fine  moon  ;  and  that  is  love.  Nay,  start  not  again  my 
dear,  for,  if  I  am  about  to  speak  on  so  awkward  a  subject, 
it  is  not  in  my  own  behalf.  I  hardly  know  whether  you 
will  think  it  in  behalf  of  any  one  ;  as  wh.it  I  have  to  say 
is  not  an  appeal  to  your  affections,  but  a  warning  against 
bestowing  them." 

"  A  warning,  Admiral  Bluewater  !  Do  you  really  think 
that  can  be  necessary  ?  " 

"  Nay,  my  child,  that  is  best  known  to  yourself.  Of 
one  thing  I  am  certain  ;  the  young  man  I  have  in  my  eye 
affects  to  admire  you,  whether  he  does  or  not ;  and  when 
young  women  are  led  to  believe  they  are  loved,  it  is  a 
strong  appeal  to  all  their  generous  feelings  to  answer  the 
passion,  if  not  with  equal  warmth,  at  least  with  something 
very  like  it." 

"Affects  to  admire,  sir!  And  why  should  anyone  be 
at  the  pains  of  affecting  feelings  toward  me,  that  they  not 
actually  entertain  ?  I  have  neither  rank,  nor  money,  to 
bribe  any  one  to  be  guilty  of  an  hypocrisy  so  mean,  and 
which,  in  my  case,  would  be  so  motiveless." 

"Yes,  if  it  were  motiveless  to  win  the  most  beautiful 
creature  in  England  !  But,  no  matter.  We  will  not  stop 
to  analyze  motives,  when  facts  are  what  we  aim  at.  I 
should  think  there  must  be  some  passion  in  this  youth's 
suit,  and  that  will  only  make  it  so  much  the  more  danger 
ous  to  its  object.  At  all  events,  I  feel  a  deep  conviction 
that  he  is  altogether  unworthy  of  you.  This  is  a  bold  ex 
pression  of  opinion  on  an  acquaintance  of  a  day :  but 


77 fK    TITO   ADM/KA/.S. 


*39 


there  are  such  reasons  for  it,  that  a  man  of  my  time  of  life, 
if  unprejudiced,  can  scarcely  be  deceived." 

"All  this  is  very  singular,  sir,  and  I  had  almost  used 
your  own  word  of  'alarming,'"  replied  Mildred,  slightly 
agitated  by  curiosity,  but  more  amused.  "  I  shall  be  as 
frank  as  yourself,  and  say  that  you  judge  the  gentleman 
harshly.  Mr.  Rotherham  may  not  have  all  the  qualities 
that  a  clergyman  ought  to  possess,  but  he  is  far  from  being 
a  bad  man.  Good  or  bad,  however,  it  is  not  probable  that 
he  will  carry  his  transient  partiality  any  farther  than  he 
has  gone  already." 

"  Mr.  Rotherham  !  I  have  neither  thought  nor  spoke  of 
the  pious  Yiear  at  all!" 

Mildred  was  now  sadly  confused.  Mr.  Rotherham  had 
made  his  proposals  for  her,  only  the  day  before,  and  he 
had  been  mildly  but  firmly  refused.  The  recent  occurrence 
was  naturally  uppermost  in  her  mind  ;  and  the  conjecture 
that  her  rejected  suitor,  under  the  influence  of  wine,  might 
have  communicated  the  state  of  his  wishes,  or  what  he 
fancied  to  be  state  of  his  wishes,  to  her  companion,  was 
so  very  easy,  that  she  had  fallen  into  the  error,  almost 
without  reflection. 

"  I  beg  pardon,  sir  ;  I  really  imagined—"  the  confused 
girl  answered — "  but,  it  was  a  natural  mistake  for  me  to 
suppose  you  meant  Mr.  Rotherham.  as  he  is  the  only  one 
who  has  ever  spoken  to  my  mother  on  the  subject  of  any 
thing  like  a  preference  for  me." 

"  I  should  have  less  fear  of  those  who  spoke  to  your 
mother,  Mildred,  than  of  those  who  spoke  only  to  you. 
As  I  hate  ambiguity,  however,  I  will  say,  at  once,  that  my 
allusion  was  to  Mr.  Wychecombe." 

"  Mr.  Wychecombe,  Admiral  Bluewater  !  "  and  the  veter 
an  felt  the  arm  that  leaned  on  him  tremble  violently,  a 
sad  confirmation  of  even  more  than  he  apprehended,  or 
he  would  not  have  been  so  abrupt.  "  Surely — surely — • 
the  warning  you  mean  cannot — ought  not  to  apply  to  a 
gentleman  of  Mr.  YVychecombe's  standing  and  character!  " 

"  Such  is  the  world,  Miss  Button,  and  we  old  seamen,  in 
particular,  get  to  know  it,  whether  willingly  or  not.  Ms- 
sudden  interest  in  you,  the  recollection  of  former,  but  pain 
ful  scenes,  and  the  events  of  the  day,  have  made  me  watch 
ful,  and,  you  may  add,  bold  ;  but  I  am  resolved  to  speak, 
even  at  the  risk  of  disobliging  you  forever  ;  and,  in  speak 
ing,  I  must  say  that  I  never  met  with  a  young  man  who  has 


140  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

made  so  unfavorable  an  impression  on  me  as  this  same 
Mr.  Wychecombe." 

Mildred,  unconsciously  to  herself,  withdrew  her  arm,  and 
she  felt  astonished  at  her  own  levity,  in  so  suddenly  becom 
ing  sufficiently  intimate  with  a  stranger  to  permit  him  thus 
to  disparage  a  confirmed  friend. 

"  I  am  sorry,  sir,  that  you  entertain  so  indifferent  an 
opinion  of  one  who  is,  I  believe,  a  general  favorite,  in  this 
part  of  the  country,"  she  answered,  with  a  coldness  that 
rendered  her  manner  very  marked. 

"  I  perceive  I  shall  share  the  fate  of  all  unwelcome  coun 
sellors,  but  can  only  blame  my  own  presumption.  Mildred, 
we  live  in  momentous  times,  and  God  knows  what  is  to 
happen  to  myself  in  the  next  few7  months  ;  but,  so  strong 
is  the  inexplicable  interest  that  I  feel  in  your  welfare,  that 
I  shall  venture  still  to  offend.  I  like  not  this  Mr.  Wyche 
combe,  who  is  so  devout  an  admirer  of  yours — real  or  af 
fected — and,  as  to  the  liking  of  dependents  for  the  heir  of 
a  considerable  estate,  it  is  so  much  a  matter  of  course,  that 
I  count  it  nothing." 

"  The  heir  of  a  considerable  estate  !  "  repeated  Mildred, 
in  a  voice  to  which  the  natural  sweetness  returned,  quietly 
resuming  the  arm  she  had  so  unceremoniously  dropped, 
"surely,  dear  sir,  you  are  not  speaking  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Wychecombe,  Sir  Wycherly's  nephew  ?  " 

"  Of  whom  else  should  I  speak  ?  Has  he  not  been  your 
shadow  the  whole  day  ? — so  marked  in  his  attentions,  as 
scarce  to  deem  it  necessary  to  conceal  his  suit  ? " 

"  Has  it  really  struck  you  thus,  sir  ?  I  confess  I  did 
not  so  consider  it.  We  are  so  much  at  home  at  the  Hall, 
that  we  rather  expect  all  of  the  family  to  be  kind  to  us. 
But  whether  you  are  right  in  your  conjecture,  or  not,  Mr. 
Thomas  Wychecombe  can  never  be  aught  to  me  ;  and  as 
a  proof,  Admiral  Bluewater,  that  I  take  your  warning,  as 
it  is  meant,  in  kindness  and  sincerity,  I  will  add,  that  he  is 
not  a  very  particular  favorite." 

"  I  rejoice  to  hear  it !  Now  there  is  his  namesake,  our 
young  Lieutenant,  as  gallant  and  as  noble  a  fellow  as  ever 
lived  ;  would  to  Heaven  he  was  not  so  wrapped  up  in  his 
profession,  as  to  be  insensible  to  any  beauties  but  those  of 
a  ship  !  Were  you  my  own  daughter,  Mildred,  I  could 
give  you  to  that  lad,  with  as  much  freedom  as  I  would  give 
him  my  estate,  were  he  my  son." 

Mildred  smiled,  and  it  was  archly,  though  not  without  a 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  141 

shade  of  sorrow,  too  ;  but  she  had  sufficient  self-command 
to  keep  her  feelings  to  herself,  and  too  much  maiden  re 
serve  not  to  shrink  from  betraying  her  weakness  to  one 
who,  after  all,  was  little  more  than  a  stranger. 

"  I  dare  say,  sir,"  she  answered,  with  an  equivocation 
which  was  perhaps  venial,  "that  your  knowledge  of  the 
world  has  judged  both  these  gentlemen  rightly.  Mr. 
Thomas  Wychecombe,  notwithstanding  all  you  heard  from 
my  poor  father,  is  not  likely  to  think  seriously  of  me  ;  and 
I  will  answer  for  my  own  feelings  as  regards  him.  I  am, 
in  no  manner,  a  proper  person  to  become  Lady  Wyche 
combe  ;  and,  I  trust,  I  should  have  the  prudence  to  de 
cline  the  honor,  were  it  even  offered  me.  Believe  me,  sir, 
my  father  would  have  held  a  different  language  to-night, 
had  it  not  been  for  Sir  Wycherly's  wine,  and  the  many 
loyal  toasts  that  were  drunk.  He  must  be  conscious,  in 
his  reflecting  moments,  that  a  child  of  his  is  unsuited  to  so 
high  a  station.  Our  prospects  in  life  were  once  better  than 
they  are  now,  Admiral  Bluewater  ;  but  they  have  never 
been  such  as  to  raise  these  high  expectations  in  us." 

"An  officer's  daughter  may  always  claim  to  be  a  gentle 
woman,  my  dear  ;  and,  as  such,  you  might  become  the  wife 
of  a  duke,  did  he  love  you.  Since  I  find  my  wrarning  un 
necessary,  however,  we  will  change  the  discourse.  Did  not 
something  extraordinary  occur  at  the  cliff,  this  morning, 
and  in  connection  with  this  very  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe  ? 
Sir  Gervaise  was  my  informant ;  but  he  did  not  relate  the 
matter  very  clearly." 

Mildred  explained  the  mistake,  and  then  gave  a  vivid 
description  of  the  danger  in  which  the  young  Lieutenant 
had  been  placed,  as  well  as  of  the  manner  in  which  he  had 
extricated  himself.  She  particularly  dwelt  on  the  extraor 
dinary  presence  of  mind  and  resolution  by  means  of  which 
he  had  saved  his  life,  when  the  stone  first  gave  way  be 
neath  his  foot. 

"  All  this  is  well,  and  what  I  should  have  expected  from 
so  active  and  energetic  a  youth,"  returned  the  Rear-ad 
miral,  a  little  gravely:  "but,  I  confess  I  would  rather  it 
had  not  happened.  Your  inconsiderate  and  reckless  young 
men,  who  risk  their  necks  idly,  in  places  of  this  sort,  sel 
dom  have  much  in  them  after  all.  Had  there  been  a 
motive,  it  would  have  altered  the  case." 

"  O  !  but  there  was  a  motive,  sir  ;  he  was  far  from  doing 
so  silly  a  thing  for  nothing  !  " 


142  ,  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"And  what  was  the  motive,  pray?  I  can  see  no  sufficient 
reason  why  a  man  of  sense  should  trust  his  person  over  a 
cliff  as  menacing  as  this.  One  may  approach  it,  by  moon 
light  ;  but  in  the  day,  I  confess  to  you  I  should  not  fancy 
standing  as  near  it  as  we  do  at  this  moment." 

Mildred  was  much  embarrassed  for  an  answer.  Her  own 
heart  told  her  Wycherly's  motive,  but  that  it  would  never 
do  to  avow  to  her  companion,  great  as  was  the  happiness 
she  felt  in  avowing  it  to  herself.  Gladly  would  she  have 
changed  the  discourse  ;  but,  as  this  could  not  be  done,  she 
yielded  to  her  native  integrity  of  character,  and  told  the 
truth,  as  far  as  she  told  anything. 

"  The  flowers  that  grow  on  the  sunny  side  of  these  rocks, 
Admiral  Bluewater,  are  singularly  fragrant  and  beautiful," 
she  said  ;  "and  hearing  my  mother  and  myself  speaking 
of  them,  and  how  much  the  former  delight  in  them, 
though  they  were  so  seldom  to  be  had,  he  just  ven 
tured  over  the  cliff — not  here,  where  it  is  so  very  perpen 
dicular,  but  yonder,  where  one  may  cling  to  it,  very  well, 
with  a  little  care  ;  and  it  was  in  venturing  a  little — just  a 
very  little  too  far,  he  told  me  himself,  sir,  to-day,  after 
dinner — that  the  stone  broke,  and  the  accident  occurred.  I 
do  not  think  Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe  in  the  least  fool 
hardy,  and  not  at  all  disposed  to  seek  a  silly  admiration  by 
a  silly  exploit." 

"  He  has  a  most  lovely  and  a  most  eloquent  advocate," 
returned  the  Admiral,  smiling,  though  the  expression  of 
his  countenance  was  melancholy  even  to  sadness  ;  "  and  he 
is  acquitted.  I  think  few  men  of  his  years  would  hesitate 
about  risking  their  necks  for  flowers  so  fragrant  and  beau 
tiful,  and  so  much  coveted  by  your  mother.  Mildred." 

"  And  he  a  sailor,  sir,  who  thinks  so  little  of  standing  on 
giddy  places,  and  laughs  at  fears  of  this  nature  ?  " 

"  Quite  true  ;  though  there  are  few  cliffs  on  board  ship. 
Ropes  are  our  source  of  courage." 

"  So  I  should  think,  by  what  passed  to-day,"  returned 
Mildred,  laughing.  "Mr.  Wycherly  called  out  for  a  rope, 
and  we  just  threw  him  one,  to  help  him  out  of  his  diffi 
culty.  The  moment  he  got  his  rope,  though  it  was  only 
yonder  small  signal-halyards,  he  felt  himself  as  secure  as 
if  he  stood  up  here,  on  the  height,  with  acres  of  level 
ground  around  him.  I  do  not  think  he  was  frightened  at 
any  time  ;  but  when  he  got  hold  of  that  little  rope  he  was 
fairly  valiant ! " 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  143 

Mildred  endeavored  to  laugh  at  her  own  history,  by  way 
of  veiling  her  interest  in  the  event  ;  but  her  companion 
was  too  old,  and  too  discerning,  to  be  easily  deceived.  He 
continued  silent,  as  he  led  her  away  from  the  cliff ;  and 
when  he  entered  the  cottage,  Mildred  saw,  by  the  nearer 
light  of  the  candles,  that  his  countenance  was  still  sad. 

Admiral  Bluewater  remained  half  an  hour  longer  in  the 
cottage,  when  he  tore  himself  away  from  a  society  which, 
for  him,  possessed  a  charm  that  he  could  not  account  for, 
nor  yet  scarcely  estimate.  It  was  past  one,  when  he  bade 
Mrs.  Dutton  and  her  daughter  adieu  ;  promising,  however, 
to  see  them  again  before  the  fleet  sailed.  Late  as  it  was, 
the  mother  and  Mildred  felt  no  disposition  to  retire,  after 
the  exciting  scenes  they  had  gone  through  ;  but,  feeling  a 
calm  on  their  spirit,  succeeding  the  rude  interruption  pro 
duced  by  Button's  brutality,  they  walked  out  on  the  cliff, 
to  enjoy  the  cool  air,  and  the  bland  scenery  of  the  head 
land,  at  that  witching  hour. 

"  I  should  feel  alarmed  at  this  particularity  of  attention 
from  most  men,  my  child,"  observed  the  prudent  mother, 
as  they  left  the  house  ;  "  but  the  years,  and  especially  the 
character  of  Admiral  Bluewater,  are  pledges  that  he  medi 
tates  nothing  foolish,  nor  wrong." 

"  His  years  would  be  sufficient,  mother,"  cried  Mildred, 
laughing,  for  her  laugh  came  easily,  since  the  opinion  she 
had  just  before  heard  of  Wycherley's  merit,  "  leaving  the 
character  out  of  the  question." 

"  For  you,  perhaps,  Mildred,  but  not  for  himself.  Men 
rarely  seem  to  think  themselves  too  old  to  win  the  young 
of  our  sex  ;  and  what  they  want  in  attraction,  they  gener 
ally  endeavor  to  supply  by  flattery  and  artifice.  But,  I 
acquit  our  new  friend  of  all  that." 

"  Had  he  been  my  own  father,  dearest  mother,  his  lan 
guage,  and  the  interest  he  took  in  me,  could  not  have  been 
more  paternal.  I  have  found  it  truly  delightful  to  listen 
to  such  counsel  from  one  of  his  sex  ;  for,  in  general,  they 
do  not  treat  me  in  so  sincere  and  fatherly  a  manner." 

Mrs.  Dutton's  lip  quivered,  her  eyelids  trembled  too,  and 
a  couple  of  tears  fell  on  her  cheeks. 

"  It  is  new  to  you,  Mildred,  to  listen  to  the  language  of 
disinterested  affection  and  wisdom  from  one  of  his  years 
and  sex.  I  do  not  censure  your  listening  with  pleasure, 
but  merely  tell  you  to  remember  the  proper  reserve  of 


144  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

your  years  and  character.  Hist !  there  are  the  sounds  of 
his  barge's  oars." 

Mildred  listened,  and  the  measured  but  sudden  jerk  of 
oars  in  the  rullocks  ascended  on  the  still  night  air,  as  dis 
tinctly  as  they  might  have  been  heard  in  the  boat. 

At  the  next  instant  an  eight-oared  barge  moved  swiftly 
out  from  under  the  cliff,  and  glided  steadily  on  toward  a 
ship,  that  had  one  lantern  suspended  from  the  end  of  her 
gaff,  another  in  her  mizzen-top,  and  the  small  night-flag  of 
a  Rear-admiral  fluttering  at  her  mizzen-royal-masthead. 
The  cutter  lay  nearest  to  the  landing,  and,  as  the  barge  ap 
proached  her,  the  ladies  heard  the  loud  hail  of  "  Boat 
ahoy  !  "  The  answer  was  also  audible,  though  given  in  the 
mild  gentleman-like  voice  of  Bluewater  himself.  It  was 
simply  "  Rear-admiral's  flag."  A  death-like  stillness  suc 
ceeded  this  annunciation  of  the  rank  of  the  officer  in  the 
passing  boat,  interrupted  only  by  the  measured  jerk  of  the 
oars.  Once  or  twice,  indeed,  the  keen  hearing  of  Mildred 
made  her  fancy  she  heard  the  common  dip  of  the  eight 
oars,  and  the  wash  of  the  water,  as  they  rose  from  the  ele 
ment,  to  gain  a  renewed  purchase.  As  each  vessel  \vas 
approached,  however,  the  hail  and  the  answer  were  re 
newed,  the  quiet  of  midnight,  in  every  instance,  succeed 
ing.  At  length  the  barge  was  seen  shooting  along  on  the 
quarter  of  the  Caesar,  the  Rear-admiral's  own  ship,  and  the 
last  hail  was  given.  This  time,  there  was  a  slight  stir  in 
the  vessel ;  and,  soon  after  the  sound  of  the  oars  ceased, 
the  lanterns  descended  from  the  stations  they  had  held 
since  nightfall.  Two  or  three  other  lanterns  were  still  dis 
played  at  the  gaffs  of  other  vessels,  the  signs  that  their 
captains  were  not  on  board  ;  though  whether  they  were 
ashore,  or  visiting  in  the  fleet,  were  facts  best  known  to 
themselves.  The  Plantagenet,  however,  had  no  light  ;  it 
being  known  that  Sir  Gervaise  did  not  intend  to  come  off 
that  night. 

When  all  this  was  over,  Mrs.  Button  and  Mildred  sought 
their  pillows,  after  an  exciting  day,  and,  to  them,  one  far 
more  momentous  than  they  were  then  aware  of. 


THE    TIVO   ADMIRALS.  145 


CHAPTER  XL 

When  I  consider  life,  'tis  all  a  cheat  ; 
Yet  fooled  with  hope,  men  favor  the  deceit ; 
Trust  on,  and  think  to-morrow  will  repay ; 
To-morrow's  falser  than  the  former  day. — Dry  den. 

ALTHOUGH  Admiral  Bluewater  devoted  the  minimum  of 
time  to  sleep,  he  was  not  what  the  French  term  matinal. 
There  is  a  period  in  the  morning,  on  board  of  a  ship  of 
the  war — that  of  washing  decks — which  can  best  be  com 
pared  to  the  discomfort  of  the  American  purification, 
ycleped  "a  house-cleaning."  This  occurs  daily,  about  the 
rising  of  the  sun  ;  and  no  officer,  whose  rank  raises  him 
above  mingling  with  the  duty  thinks,  except  on  extra 
ordinary  occasions  that  may  require  his  presence  for  other 
purposes,  of  intruding  on  its  sacred  mysteries,  It  is  a 
rabid  hour  in  a  ship,  and  the  wisest  course,  for  all  idlers, 
and  all  watch-officers  who  are  not  on  duty,  is  to  keep 
themselves  under  hatches,  if  their  convenience  will  possibly 
allow  it.  He  who  wears  a  flag,  however,  is  usually  reposing 
in  his  cot,  at  this  critical  moment ;  or,  if  risen  at  all,  he  is 
going  through  similar  daily  ablutions  of  his  own  person. 

Admiral  Bluewater  was  in  the  act  of  opening  his  eyes, 
when  the  splash  of  the  first  bucket  of  water  was  heard  on 
the  deck  of  the  Caesar,  and  he  lay  in  the  species  of  enjoy 
ment  which  is  so  peculiar  to  naval  men,  after  they  have 
risen  to  the  station  of  commander  :  a  sort  of  semi-trance, 
in  which  the  mind  summons  all  the  ancient  images,  con 
nected  with  squalls  ;  reefing  topsails  in  the  rain  ;  standing 
on  the  quarter  of  a  yard,  shouting,  "  Haul  out  to  leeward  ;" 
peering  over  the  weather  hammock-cloths  to  eye  the 
weather,  with  the  sleet  prickling  the  face  like  needles  ;  and 
— washing  decks  !  These  dreamy  images  of  the  past,  how 
ever,  are  summoned  merely  to  increase  the  sense  of  pres 
ent  enjoyment.  They  are  so  many  well-contrived  foils,  to 
give  greater  brilliancy  to  the  diamonds  of  a  comfortable 
cot,  and  the  entire  consciousness  of  being  no  longer  ex 
posed  to  untimely  summons  on  deck. 

Our  Rear-admiral,  nevertheless,  was  not  a  vulgar 
dreamer,  on  such  occasions.  He  thought  little  of  personal 
comforts  at  any  time,  unless  indeed  when  personal  discom 
forts  obtruded  themselves  on  his  attention  ;  he  knew  little 
10 


146  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

or  nothing  of  the  table,  whereas  his  friend  was  a  knowing 
cook  and  in  the  days  of  probation  had  been  a  distinguished 
caterer  ;  but  he  was  addicted  to  a  sort  of  dreaming  of  his 
own,  even  when  the  sun  stood  in  the  zenith,  and  he  was 
walking  the  poop,  in  the  midst  of  a  circle  of  his  officers. 
Still,  he  could  not  refrain  from  glancing  back  at  the  past, 
that  morning,  as  plash  after  plash  was  heard,  and  recalling 
the  time  when  magna  pars  quorum  FUIT.  At  this  delectable 
instant,  the  ruddy  face  of  a  "  young  gentleman  "  appeared 
in  his  state-room  door,  and,  first  ascertaining  that  the 
eyes  of  his  superior  were  actually  open,  the  youngster 
said : 

"  A  note  from  Sir  Gervaise,  Admiral  Bluewater." 

"  Very  well,  sir,"  taking  the  note.  "  How's  the  wind, 
Lord  Geoffrey  ? " 

"  An  Irishman's  hurricane,  sir,  right  up  and  down.  Our 
first  says,  sir,  he  never  knew  finer  channel  weather." 

"  Our  first  is  a  great  astrologer.  Is  the  fleet  riding 
flood  yet  ? " 

"No,  sir;  it's  slack-water;  or  rather,  the  ebb  is  just 
beginning  to  make." 

"Go  on  deck,  my  lord,  and  see  if  the  Dover  has  hove 
in  any  upon  her  larboard  bower,  so  as  to  bring  her  more 
on  our  quarter." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  and  this  cadet  of  one  of  the  most  illustri 
ous  houses  of  England  skipped  up  the  ladder  to  ascertain 
this  fact. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Bluewater  stretched  out  an  arm,  drew 
a  curtain  from  before  his  little  window,  fumbled  for  some 
time  among  his  clothes  before  he  got  his  spectacles,  and 
then  opened  the  note.  This-  early  epistle  was  couched  in 
the  following  words  : 

DEAR  BLUE  :  I  write  this  in  a  bed  big  enough  to  wear  a 
ninety  in.  I've  been  athvvartships  half  the  night,  without 
knowing  it.  Galleygo  has  just  been  in  to  report  *  our  fleet ' 
all  well,  and  the  ships  riding  flood.  It  seems  there  is  a 
good  lookout  from  the  top  of  the  house,  where  part  of  the 
roads  is  visible.  Magrath,  and  the  rest  of  them,  have  been 
at  poor  Sir  Wycherly  all  night,  I  learn,  but  he  remains 
down  by  the  head,  yet,  I  am  afraid  that  the  good  old  man 
will  never  be  in  trim  again.  I  shall  remain  here  until 
something  is  decided  ;  and  as  we  cannot  expect  our  orders 
until  next  day  after  to-morrow,  at  the  soonest,  one  might 


THE    TITO    ADMIRALS.  147 

as  well  be  here,  as  on  board.  Come  ashore  and  breakfast 
with  us  ;  when  we  can  consult  about  the  propriety  of  re 
maining,  or  of  abandoning  the  wreck.  Adieu. 

OAKES. 

Rear- Admiral  Bluewater. 

P.S. — There  was  a  little  occurrence  last  night,  connected 
with  Sir  Wycherly's  will,  that  makes  me  particularly  anx 
ious  to  see  you,  as  early  as  possible,  this  morning.  O. 

Sir  Gervaise,  like  a  woman,  had  written  his  mind  in  his 
postscript.  The  scene  of  the  previous  night  had  forcibly 
presented  itself  to  his  recollection  on  awakening  and,  call 
ing  for  his  writing-desk,  he  had  sent  off  this  note,  at  the 
dawn  of  day,  with  the  wish  of  having  as  many  important 
witnesses  as  he  could  well  obtain,  at  the  interview  he  in 
tended  to  demand  at  the  earliest  practicable  hour. 

"What  the  deuce  can  Oakes  have  to  do  with  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe's  will  ?  "  thought  the  Rear-admiral. 
"  By  the  way,  that  puts  me  in  mind  of  my  own  ;  and  of  my 
own  recent  determination.  What  are  my  poor  ^30,000 
to  a  man  with  the  fortune  of  Lord  Bluewater.  Having 
neither  a  wife  nor  child,  brother  nor  sister  of  my  own,  I'll 
do  wrhat  I  please  with  my  money.  Oakes  won't  have  it ; 
besides,  he's  got  enough  of  his  own,  and  to  spare.  An  es 
tate  of  ^7,000  a  year,  besides  heaps  of  prize-money  funded. 
I  dare  say  he  has  a  good  ^12,000  a  year,  and  nothing  but 
a  nephew  to  inherit  it  all.  I'm  determined  to  do  as  I  please 
with  my  money.  I  made  every  shilling  of  it,  and  I'll  give 
it  to  whom  I  please." 

The  whole  time  Admiral  Bluewater  lay  with  his  eyes 
shut,  and  with  a  tongue  as  motionless  as  if  it  couldn't  stir. 
With  all  his  laisscz  aller  manner,  however,  he  had  the 
promptitude  of  a  sailor,  when  his  mind  was  made  up  to  do 
a  thing,  though  he  always  performed  it  in  his  own  peculiar 
mode.  To  rise,  dress,  and  prepare  to  quit  his  state-room, 
occupied  him  but  a  short  time  ;  and  he  was  seated  before 
his  own  writing-desk,  in  the  after-cabin,  within  twenty 
minutes  after  the  thoughts  just  recorded  had  passed  through 
his  mind.  His  first  act  was  to  take  a  folded  paper  from  a 
private  drawer,  and  glance  his  eye  carelessly  over  it.  This 
was  the  will  in  favor  of  Lord  Bluewater.  It  was  expressed 
in  very  concise  terms,  filling  only  the  first  side  of  a  page. 
This  will  be  copied,  verbatim  et  literatim,  leaving  blanks  for 
the  name  of  the  legatee,  and  appointing  Sir  Gervaise 


148  THE    TIVO   ADMIRALS. 

Oakes  his  executor,  as  in  the  will  already  executed.  When 
finished  in  this  manner,  he  set  about  filling  up  the  blanks. 
For  a  passing  instant,  he  felt  tempted  to  insert  the  name 
of  the  Pretender  ;  but,  smiling  at  his  own  folly,  he  wrote 
that  of  "  Mildred  Button,  daughter  of  Francis  Button,  a 
master  in  his  Majesty's  navy,"  in  all  the  places  that  it  was 
requisite  so  to  do.  Then  he  affixed  the  seal,  and,  folding 
all  the  upper  part  of  the  sheet  over,  so  as  to  conceal  the 
contents,  he  rang  a  little  silver  bell,  which  always  stood 
at  his  elbow.  The  outer  cabin  door  was  opened  by  the 
sentry,  who  thrust  his  head  in  at  the  opening. 

"  I  want  one  of  the  young  gentlemen,  sentry,"  said  the 
Rear-admiral. 

The  door  closed,  and,  in  an  another  minute,  the  smiling 
face  of  Lord  Geoffrey  was  at  the  entrance  of  the  after- 
cabin. 

"  Who's  on  deck,  my  Lord,"  demanded  Bluewater,  "  be 
side  the  watch  ?  " 

"  No  one,  sir.  All  the  idlers  keep  as  close  as  foxes, 
when  the  decks  are  getting  it ;  and  as  for  any  of  our 
snorers  showing  their  faces  before  six  bells,  it's  quite  out 
of  the  question,  sir." 

"  Some  one  must  surely  be  stirring  in  the  gun-room,  by 
this  time  !  Go  and  ask  the  Chaplain  and  the  captain  of 
marines  to  do  me  the  favor  to  step  into  the  cabin — or  the 
First  Lieutenant  ;  or  the  master  ;  or  any  of  the  idlers." 

The  midshipman  was  gone  two  or  three  minutes,  when 
he  returned  with  the  purser  and  the  chaplain. 

"The  First  Lieutenant  is  in  the  fore-hold,  sir;  all  the 
marines  have  got  their  dead-lights  still  in,  and  the  master 
is  working  up  his  log,  the  gun-room  steward  says.  I  hope 
these  will  do,  sir  ;  they  are  the  greatest  idlers  in  the  ship, 
I  believe." 

Lord  Geoffrey  Cleveland  was  the  second  son  of  the  third 
Buke  in  the  English  Empire,  and  he  knew  it,  as  well  as 
any  one  on  board.  Admiral  Bluewater  had  no  slavish 
respect  for  rank  ;  nevertheless,  like  all  men  educated  un 
der  an  aristocratic  system,  he  was  influenced  by  the  feeling 
to  a  degree  of  which  he  himself  was  far  from  being  con 
scious.  This  young  scion  of  nobility  was  not  in  the  least 
favored  in  matters  of  duty,  for  this  his  own  high  spirit 
would  have  resented  ;  but  he  dined  in  the  cabin  twice  as 
often  as  any  other  midshipman  on  board,  and  had  obtained 
for  himself  a  sort  of  license  for  the  tongue,  that  embol- 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  149 

dened  him  to  utter  what  passed  for  smart  things  in  the 
cock  pit  and  gun-room,  and  which,  out  of  all  doubt,  were 
pert  things  everywhere.  Neither  the  Chaplain  nor  the 
purser  took  offence  at  his  liberties  on  the  present  occasion  ; 
and,  as  for  the  Rear-admiral,  he  had  not  attended  to  what 
had  been  uttered.  As  soon,  however,  as  he  found  others 
in  his  cabin,  he  motioned  to  them  to  approach  his  desk, 
and  pointed  to  the  paper,  folded  down,  as  mentioned. 

"Every  prudent  man,"  he  said,  "and  especially  every 
prudent  sailor  and  soldier,  in  a  time  of  war,  ought  to  be 
provided  with  a  will.  This  is  mine,  just  drawn  up  by  my 
self  ;  and  that  instrument  is  an  old  one,  which  I  now  de 
stroy  in  your  presence.  I  acknowledge  this  to  be  my  hand 
and  seal,"  writing  his  name,  and  touching  the  seal  with  a 
finger  as  he  spoke  ;  "  affixed  to  this  my  last  will  and  testa 
ment.  Will  you  have  the  kindness  to  act  as  witnesses  ?  " 

When  the  Chaplain  and  purser  had  affixed  their  names, 
there  still  remained  a,  place  for  a  third  signature.  This, 
by  a  sign  from  his  superior,  the  laughing  midshipman 
filled  with  his  own  signature. 

"  I  hope  you've  recollected,  sir,"  cried  the  boy,  with  glee, 
as  he  took  his  seat  to  obey,  "  that  the  Bluewaters  and 
Clevelands  are  related.  I  shall  be  grievously  disappointed, 
when  this  will  is  proved,  if  my  name  be  not  found  some 
where  in  it  !" 

"  So  shall  I,  too,  my  lord,"  dryly  returned  Bluewater  ; 
"  for,  I  fully  expect  it  will  appear  as  a  witness  ;  a  charac 
ter  that  is  at  once  fatal  to  all  claims  as  a  legatee." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  suppose  flag-officers  can  do  pretty  much  as 
they  please  with  their  money,  since  they  do  pretty  much 
as  they  please  with  the  ships,  and  all  in  them.  I  must 
lean  so  much  the  harder  on  my  two  old  aunts,  as  I  appear 
to  have  laid  myself  directly  athwart-hawse  of  fortune  in 
this  affair  !" 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  Rear-admiral,  with  easy  courtesy, 
"  I  regret  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  have  your  company  at 
dinner,  to-day,  as  I  am  summoned  ashore  by  Sir  Gervaise, 
and  it  is  uncertain  when  I  can  get  off  again  ;  but  to-mor 
row  1  shall  hope  to  enjoy  that  pleasure." 

The  officers  bowed,  expressed  their  acknowledgment, 
accepted  the  invitation,  bowed  once  or  twice  more  each, 
and  left  the  cabin,  with  the  exception  of  the  midshipman. 

"Well,  sir,"  exclaimed  Bluewater,  a  little  surprised  at 
finding  he  was  not  alone,  after  a  minute  of  profound  rev- 


150  THK    7'ITO   ADMIRALS. 

erie  ;  "  to  what  request  am  I  indebted  still  for  the  pleasure 
of  your  presence  ?" 

"  Why,  sir,  it's  just  forty  miles  to  my  father's  house  in 
Cornwall,  and  I  know  the  whole  family  is  there  ;  so  I  just 
fancied,  that  by  bending  on  two  extra  horses,  a  chaise 
might  make  the  Park  gates  in  about  five  hours  ;  and  by 
getting  under  way  on  the  return  passage,  to-morrow  about 
this  time,  the  old  Caesar  would  never  miss  a  crazy  reefer, 
more  or  less." 

"Very  ingeniously  put,  young  gentleman,  and  quite 
plausible.  When  I  was  of  your  age,  I  was  four  years  once 
without  seeing  either  father  or  mother." 

"Yes,  sir,  but  that  was  such  a  long  time  ago!  Boys 
can't  stand  it  half  as  well  now,  as  they  did  then,  as  all  old 
people  say." 

The  Rear-admiral's  lips  moved  slightly  as  if  a  smile 
struggled  about  his  mouth  ;  then  his  face  suddenly  lost  the 
expression,  in  one  approaching  to  sadness. 

"You  know,  Geoffrey,  I  am  not  commander-in-chief. 
Sir  Gervaise  alone  can  give  a  furlough." 

"  Very  true,  sir  ;  but  whatever  you  ask  of  Sir  Gervaise, 
he  always  does  ;  more  especially  as  concerns  us  of  your 
flag-ship." 

"Perhaps  that  is  true.  But,  my  boy,  we  live  in  serious 
times,  and  we  may  sail  at  an  hour's  notice.  Are  you  igno 
rant  that  Prince  Charles  Edward  has  landed  in  Scotland, 
and  that  the  Jacobites  are  up  and  doing  ?  If  the  French 
back  him,  we  may  have  our  hands  full,  here  in  the  chan 
nel." 

"  Then  my  dear  mother  must  go  without  a  kiss  for  the 
next  twelvemonth  ! "  cried  the  gallant  boy,  dashing  a  hand 
furtively  across  his  eyes,  in  spite  of  his  resolution.  "  The 
throne  of  old  England  must  be  upheld,  even  though  not  a 
mother  nor  a  sister  in  the  island  see  a  midshipman  in 
years  !  " 

"Nobly  said,  Lord  Geoffrey,  and  it  shall  be  known  at 
headquarters.  Your  family  is  whig  ;  and  you  do  well,  at 
your  time  of  life,  to  stick  to  the  family  politics." 

"A  small  run  on  the  shore,  sir,  would  be  a  great  pleas 
ure,  after  six  months  at  sea." 

"You  must  ask  Captain  Stowel's  leave  for  that.  You 
know  I  never  interfere  with  the  duty  of  the  ship." 

"Yes,  sir,  but  there  are  so  many  of  us,  and  all  have  a 
hankering  after  terra  firma.  Might  I  just  say,  that  I  have 


THE    TllT0   ADMIRALS.  151 

your  permission  to  ask  Captain  Stowel  to  let  me  have  a 
run  on  the  cliffs  ? " 

"  You  may  do  that,  my  lord,  if  you  wish  it ;  but  Stowel 
knows  that  he  can  do  as  he  pleases." 

"  He  would  be  a  queer  captain  of  a  man-of-war  if  he 
didn't,  sir  !  Thank  you,  Admiral  Bluewater,  I  will  write 
to  my  mother,  and  I  know  she'll  be  satisfied  with  the  rea 
son  I  shall  give  her,  for  not  coming  to  see  her.  Good 
morning,  sir." 

"  Good  morning," — then,  when  the  boy's  hand  was  on 
the  lock  of  the  cabin-door — "  my  lord  ? " 

"  Did  you  wish  to  say  any  thing  more,  sir  ?" 

"When  you  write,  remember  me  kindly  to  the  Duchess. 
We  were  intimate,  when  young  people  ;  and,  I  might  say, 
loved  each  other." 

The  midshipman  promised  to  do  as  desired ;  then  the 
Rear-admiral  was  left  alone.  He  walked  the  cabin  for 
half  an  hour,  musing  on  what  he  had  done  in  relation  to 
his  property,  and  on  what  he  ought  to  do  in  relation  to 
the  Pretender  ;  when  he  suddenly  summoned  his  cox 
swain,  gave  few  directions,  and  sent  an  order  on  deck 
to  have  his  barge  manned.  The  customary  reports  went 
their  usual  rounds,  and  reached  the  cabin  in  about  three 
minutes  more  ;  Lord  Geoffrey  bringing  them  down  again. 

"  The  barge  is  manned,  sir,"  said  the  lad,  standing  near 
the  cabin-door,  rigged  out  in  the  neat,  go  ashore-clothes 
of  a  midshipman. 

"Have  you  seen  Captain  Stowel,  my  lord  ?"  demanded 
the  Rear-admiral. 

"  I  have,  sir  ;  and  he  has  given  me  permission  to  drift 
along-shore,  until  sunset  ;  to  be  off  with  the  evening  gun 
of  the  Vice-admiral." 

"Then  do  me  the  favor  to  take  a  seat  in  my  barge,  if 
you  are  quite  ready." 

This  offer  was  accepted,  and  in  a  few  minutes  all  the 
ceremonies  of  the  deck  had  been  observed,  and  the  Rear- 
admiral  was  seated  in  his  barge.  It  was  now  so  late  that 
etiquette  had  fair  play,  and  no  point  was  omitted  on  the 
occasion.  The  Captain  was  on  deck,  in  person,  as  well  as 
gun-room  officers  enough  to  represent  their  body  ;  the 
guard  was  paraded,  under  its  officers  ;  the  drums  rolled  ; 
the  boatswain  piped  six  side  boys  over,  and  Lord  Geoffrey 
skipped  down  first  into  the  boat,  remaining  respectfully 
standing,  until  his  superior  was  seated.  All  these  punctil- 


152  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

ios  observed,  the  boat  was  shoved  off  from  the  vessel's  side, 
the  eight  oars  dropped,  as  one,  and  the  party  moved  to 
ward  the  shore.  Every  cutter,  barge,  yawl,  or  launch  that 
was  met,  and  which  did  not  contain  an  officer  of  rank  it 
self,  tossed  its  oars,  as  this  barge,  with  the  Rear-admiral's 
flag  fluttering  in  its  bow,  passed,  while  the  others  lay  on 
theirs,  the  gentlemen  saluting  with  their  hats.  In  this 
manner  the  barge  passed  the  fleet,  and  approached  the 
shore.  At  the  landing,  a  little  quay  formed  by  a  low  flat 
rock,  there  was  a  general  movement,  as  the  Rear-admiral's 
flag  was  seen  to  draw  near  ;  and  even  the  boats  of  captains 
were  shoved  aside,  to  give  the  naval  pas.  As  soon,  how 
ever,  as  the  foot  of  Bluewater  touched  the  rock,  the  little 
flag  was  struck ;  and,  a  minute  later,  a  cutter,  with  only  a 
lieutenant  in  her,  coming  in,  that  officer  ordered  the  barge 
to  make  way  for  him,  with  an  air  of  high  and  undisputed 
authority. 

Perhaps  there  was  not  a  man  in  the  British  marine,  to 
whom  the  etiquette  of  the  service  gave  less  concern,  than 
to  Bluewater.  In  this  respect,  he  was  the  very  reverse  of 
his  friend  ;  for  Sir  Gervaise  was  a  punctilious  observer,  and 
a  rigid  enforcer  of  all  the  prescribed  ceremonials.  This 
was  by  no  means  the  only  professional  point  on  which 
these  two  distinguished  officers  differed.  It  has  already 
been  mentioned  that  the  Rear-admiral  was  the  best  tacti 
cian  in  England,  while  the  Vice-admiral  was  merely  re 
spectable  in  that  branch  of  his  duty.  On  the  other  hand, 
Sir  Gervaise  was  deemed  the  best  practical  seaman  afloat, 
so  far  as  a  single  ship  was  concerned,  while  Bluewater  had 
no  particular  reputation  in  that  way.  Then,  as  to  disci 
pline,  the  same  distinction  existed.  The  comrnander-in- 
chief  was  a  little  martinet,  exacting  compliance  with  the 
most  minute  regulations  ;  while  his  friend,  even  when  a 
captain,  had  thrown  the  police  duty  of  his  ship  very  much 
on  what  is  called  the  executive  officer,  or  the  first  lieuten 
ant  ;  leaving  to  that  important  functionary  the  duty  of  de 
vising,  as  well  as  of  executing,  the  system  by  which  order 
and  cleanliness  were  maintained  in  the  vessel.  Neverthe 
less,  Bluewater  had  his  merit  even  in  this  particular  feat 
ure  of  the  profession.  He  had  made  the  best  captain  of 
the  fleet  to  his  friend,  that  had  ever  been  met  with.  The 
office,  which,  in  some  measure,  corresponds  to  that  of  an 
adjutant-general  on  shore,  was  suited  to  his  generalizing 
and  philosophical  turn  of  mind  ;  and  he  had  brought  all 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  153 

its  duties  within  the  circle  and  control  of  clear  and  simple 
principles,  which  rendered  them  pleasant  and  easy. 

Then,  too,  whenever  he  commanded  in  chief,  as  fre 
quently  happened,  for  a  week  or  two  at  a  time,  Sir 
Gervaise  being  absent,  it  was  remarked  that  the  common 
service  of  the  fleet  went  on  like  clock-work  ;  his  mind 
seeming  to  embrace  generals,  when  it  refused  to  descend 
to  details.  In  consequence  of  these  personal  peculiari 
ties,  the  captains  often  observed  that  Bluewater  ought  to 
have  been  the  senior,  and  Oakes  the  junior;  and  then, 
their  joint  commands  would  have  produced  perfection  ; 
but  these  criticisms  must  be  set  down,  in  a  great  measure, 
to  the  natural  propensity  to  find  fault,  and  an  inherent 
desire  in  men,  even  when  things  are  perfectly  well  in 
themselves,  to  prove  their  own  superiority,  by  pointing 
out  modes  and  means  by  which  they  might  be  made  much 
better.  Had  the  service  been  on  land,  this  opinion  might 
possibly  have  had  more  practical  truth  in  it  ;  but  the 
impetuosity  and  daring  of  Sir  Gervaise  were  not  bad 
substitutes  for  tactics,  in  the  straightforward  combats  of 
ships.  To  resume  the  narrative. 

When  Bluewater  landed,  he  returned  the  profound  and 
general  salute  of  all  on  or  near  the  rock,  by  a  sweeping, 
but  courteous  bow,  which  was  nevertheless  given  in  a 
vacant,  slovenly  manner  ;  and  immediately  began  to  ascend 
the  ravine.  He  had  actually  reached  the  grassy  acclivity 
above,  before  he  was  at  all  aware  of  any  person's  being 
near  him.  Turning,  he  perceived  that  the  midshipman 
was  at  his  heels,  respect  alone  preventing  one  of  the  latter's 
active  limbs  and  years  from  skipping  past  his  superior 
on  the  ascent.  The  Admiral  recollected  how  little  there 
was  to  amuse  one  of  the  boy's  habits  in  p,  place  like 
Wychecombe,  and  he  good-naturedly  determined  to  take 
him  along  with  himself. 

"  You  are  little  likely  to  find  any  diversion  here,  Lord 
Geoffrey,"  he  said  ;  "if  you  will  accept  of  the  society  of 
a  dull  old  fellow,  like  myself,  you  shall  see  all  I  see,  be 
it  more  or  less." 

"  I've  shipped  for  the  cruise,  sir,  and  am  ready  and 
happy,  too,  to  follow  your  motions,  with  or  without 
signals,"  returned  the  laughing  youngster.  "  I  suppose 
Wychecombe  is  about  as  good  as  Portsmouth,  or  Plym 
outh  ;  and  I'm  sure  these  green  fields  are  handsomer 
than  the  streets  of  any  dirty  town  I  ever  entered." 


154  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"Aye,  green  fields  are,  indeed,  pleasant  to  the  eyes  of 
us  sailors,  who  see  nothing  but  water,  for  months  at  a 
time.  Turn  to  the  right,  if  you  please,  my  lord  ;  I  wish 
to  call  at  yonder  signal-station,  on  my  way  to  the  Hall." 

The  boy,  as  is  not  usual  with  lads  of  his  age,  inclined 
in  "  the  way  he  was  told  to  go,"  and  in  a  few  minutes 
both  stood  on  the  headland.  As  it  would  not  have  done 
for  the  master  to  be  absent  from  his  staif  during  the  day, 
with  a  fleet  in  the  roads,  Button  was  already  at  his  post, 
cleanly  dressed  as  usual,  but  trembling  again  with  the 
effect  of  last  night's  debauch  on  his  nerves.  He  arose, 
with  great  deference  of  manner,  to  receive  the  Rear- 
admiral,  and  not  without  many  misgivings  of  conscience  ; 
for,  while  memory  furnished  a  tolerable  outline  of  what 
had  occurred  in  the  interview  between  himself  and  his 
wife  and  daughter,  wine  had  lost  its  influence,  and  no 
longer  helped  to  sustain  his  self-command.  Fie  was  much 
relieved,  however,  by  the  discreet  manner  in  which  he  was 
met  by  Bluewater. 

"  How  is  Sir  Wycherly?"  inquired  the  Admiral,  salut 
ing  the  master,  as  if  nothing  had  happened  ;  "  a  note  from 
Sir  Gervaise,  written  about  daybreak,  tells  me  he  was  not 
then  essentially  better." 

"  I  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  give  you  any  good 
news,  sir.  He  must  be  conscious,  notwithstanding  ;  for 
Dick,  his  groom,  has  ridden  over  with  a  note  from  Mr. 
Rotherham,  to  say  that  the  excellent  old  Baronet  particu 
larly  desires  to  see  my  wife  and  daughter  ;  and  that  the 
coach  will  be  here  to  take  them  over  in  a  few  minutes.  If 
you  are  bound  to  the  Hall,  this  morning,  sir,  I'm  certain 
the  ladies  would  be  delighted  to  give  you  a  seat.*' 

"Then  I  will  profit  by  their  kindness,"  returned  Blue- 
water,  seating  himself  on  the  bench  at  the  foot  of  the 
staff;  "more  especially,  if  you  think  they  will  excuse  my 
adding  Lord  Geoffrey  Cleveland,  one  of  Stovvel's  midship 
men,  to  the  party.  He  has  entered,  to  follow  my  motions, 
with  or  without  signals." 

Button  uncovered  again,  and  bowed  profoundly,  at  this 
announcement  of  the  lad's  name  and  rank  ;  the  boy  him 
self,  taking  the  salute  in  an  off-hand  and  indifferent  way, 
like  one  already  wearied  with  vulgar  adulation,  while  he 
gazed  about  him,  with  some  curiosity,  at  the  headland  and 
flag-staff. 

"This  is  a  good  look-out,  sir,"  observed  the  midship- 


THE    TWO   ADMfj,^  155 

man;  "and  one  that  is  somewhat  loftier  than  our  cross- 
trees.  A  pair  of  sharp  eyes  might  see  everything  that 
passes  within  twenty  miles  ;  and,  as  a  proof  of  it,  I  shall  be 
the  first  to  sing  out,  *  Sail,  ho  !  " 

"  Where-away,  my  young  lord  ?"  said  Button,  fidgeting, 
as  if  he  had  neglected  his  duty,  in  the  presence  of  a 
superior;  "  I'm  sure  your  lordship  can  see  nothing  but  the 
fleet  at  anchor,  and  a  few  boats  passing  between  the  dif 
ferent  ships  and  the  landing  !  " 

"  Where-away,  sure  enough,  youngster  ?  "  added  the  Ad 
miral.  "  I  see  some  gulls  glancing  along  the  surface  of 
the  water,  a  mile  or  two  outside  the  ships,  but  nothing  like 
a  sail." 

The  boy  caught  up  Button's  glass,  which  lay  on  the 
seat,  and  in  a  minute  he  had  it  levelled  at  the  expanse  of 
water.  It  was  some  little  time,  and  not  without  much 
sighting  along  the  barrel  of  the  instrument,  that  he  got  it 
to  suit  himself. 

"  Well,  Master  Sharp-eyes,"  said  Bluewater,  dryly,  "  is 
it  a  Frenchman,  or  a  Spaniard  ?" 

"  Hold  on,  a  moment,  sir,  until  I  can  get  this  awkward 
glass  to  bear  on  it.  Aye — now  I  have  her  ;  she's  but  a 
speck,  at  the  best — royals  and  head  of  topgallant  sails — no, 
sir,  by  George,  it's  our  own  cutter,  the  Active,  with  her 
squaresail  set,  and  the  heads  of  her  lower  sails  just  rising. 
I  know  her  by  the  way  she  carries  her  gaff." 

"  The  Active  !  that  betokens  news,"  observed  Bluewater, 
thoughtfully  ;  for  the  march  of  events,  at  that  moment, 
must  necessarily  bring  on  a  crisis  in  his  own  career.  "  Sir 
Gervaise  sent  her  to  look  into  Cherbourg." 

"  Yes,  sir,  we  all  know  that ;  and  there  she  comes  to  tell 
us,  I  hope,  that  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  has  at  last  made  up 
his  mind  to  come  out  and  face  us,  like  a  man.  Will  you 
look  at  the  sail,  sir  ?  " 

Bluewater  took  the  glass,  and  sweeping  the  horizon,  he 
soon  caught  a  view  of  his  object.  A  short  survey  sufficed, 
for  one  so  experienced,  and  he  handed  the  glass  back  to 
the  boy. 

"You  have  quick  eyes,  sir,"  he  said,  as  he  did  so  :  "  that 
is  a  cutter,  certainly,  standing  in  for  the  roads,  and  I 
believe  you  may  be  right  in  taking  her  for  the  Active." 

"'Tis  a  long  way  to  know  so  small  a  craft!"  observed 
Button,  who  also  took  his  look  at  the  stranger. 

"  Very  true,  sir,"  answered  the  boy  ;  "  but  one  ought  to 


1 56  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

tell  a  friend  as  far  as  he  can  see  him.  The  Active  carries 
a  longer  and  a  lower  gaff  than  any  other  cutter  in  the 
navy,  which  is  the  way  we  all  tell  her  from  the  Gnat,  the 
cutter  we  have  with  us." 

"  I  am  glad  to  find  your  lordship  is  so  close  an  observer," 
returned  the  complaisant  Dutton  ;  "  a  certain  sign,  my 
lord,  that  your  lordship  will  make  a  good  sailor,  in  time." 

"  Geoffrey  is  a  good  sailor,  already,"  observed  the  Ad 
miral,  who  knew  that  the  youngster  was  never  better 
pleased  than  when  he  dropped  the  distance  of  using  his 
title,  and  spoke  to,  or  of  him,  as  of  a  connection  ;  which, 
in  truth,  he  was.  "  He  has  now  been  with  me  four  years, 
having  joined  \vhen  he  wTas  only  twelve.  Two  more  years 
will  make  an  officer  of  him." 

"Yes,  sir,"  said  Dutton,  bowing  first  to  one,  and  then  to 
the  other.  "  Yes,  sir  ;  his  lordship  may  well  look  forward 
to  that,  with  his  particular  merit,  your  esteemed  favor, 
and  his  own  great  name.  Ah  !  sir,  they've  caught  a  sight 
of  the  stranger  in  the  fleet,  and  bunting  is  at  work, 
already." 

In  anchoring  his  ships,  Admiral  Bluewater  had  kept 
them  as  close  together  as  the  fog  rendered  safe  ;  for  one 
of  the  great  difficulties  of  a  naval  commander  is  to  retain 
his  vessels  in  compact  order,  in  thick  or  heavy  weather. 
Orders  had  been  given,  however,  for  a  sloop  and  a  frigate 
to  weigh,  and  stretch  out  into  the  offing  a  league  or  two. 
as  soon  as  the  fog  left  them,  the  preceding  day,  in  order 
to  sweep  as  wide  a  reach  of  the  horizon  as  was  conve 
nient. 

In  order  to  maintain  their  ground  in  a  light  wind,  and 
with  a  strong  tide  running,  these  two  cruisers  had  anchored  ; 
one,  at  a  distance  of  a  league  from  the  fleet,  and  the  other, 
a  mile  or  two  farther  outside,  though  more  to  the  east 
ward.  The  sloop  lay  nearest  to  the  stranger,  and  signals 
were  flying  at  her  main-royal-mast-head,  which  the  frigate 
was  repeating,  and  transmitting  to  the  flag-ship  of  the 
commander-in-chief.  Bluewater  was  so  familiar  with  all 
the  ordinary  signals,  that  it  was  seldom  he  had  recourse 
to  his  book  for  the  explanations  ;  and,  in  the  present  in 
stance,  he  saw  at  once  that  it  was  the  Active's  number  that 
was  shown.  Other  signals,  however,  followed,  which  it 
surpassed  the  Rear-admiral's  knowledge  to  read,  without 
assistance  ;  from  all  which  he  was  satisfied  that  the 
stranger  brought  intelligence  of  importance,  and  which 


THE    TirO   ADMIRALS.  157 

could  only  be  understood  by  referring  to  the  private 
signal-book. 

While  these  facts  were  in  the  course  of  occurrence,  the 
coach  arrived  to  convey  Mrs.  Button  and  Mildred  to  the 
Hall.  Bluewater  now  presented  himself  to  the  ladies, 
and  was  received  as  kindly  as  they  had  separated  from 
him  a  few  hours  before  ;  nor  were  the  latter  displeased  at 
hearing  he  was  to  be  their  companion  back  to  the  dwelling 
of  Sir  Wycherly. 

"I  fear  this  summons  bodes  evil  tidings,"  said  Mrs. 
Button;  "he  would  hardly  think  of  desiring  to  see  us, 
unless  something  quite  serious  were  on  his  mind  ;  and  the 
messenger  said  he  was  no  better." 

"  We  shall  learn  all,  my  dear  lady,  when  we  reach  the 
Hall,"  returned  Bluewater;  "and  the  sooner  we  reach  it, 
the  sooner  our  doubts  will  be  removed.  Before  we  enter 
the  carriage,  let  me  make  you  acquainted  with  my  young 
friend,  Lord  Geoffrey  Cleveland,  whom  I  have  presumed 
to  invite  to  be  of  the  party." 

The  handsome  young  midshipman  was  well  received, 
though  Mrs.  Button  had  been  too  much  accustomed,  in 
early  life,  to  see  people  of  condition,  to  betray  the  same 
deference  as  her  husband  for  the  boy's  rank.  The  ladies 
occupied,  as  usual,  the  hind  seat  of  the  coach,  leaving  that 
in  front  to  their  male  companions.  The  arrangement  acci 
dentally  brought  Mildred  and  the  midshipman  opposite 
each  other  ;  a  circumstance  that  soon  attracted  the  atten 
tion  of  the  Admiral,  in  a  way  that  was  a  little  odd,  if  not 
remarkable.  There  is  a  charm  in  youth,  that  no  other 
period  of  life  possesses  ;  infancy,  with  its  helpless  beauty, 
scarcely  seizing  upon  the  imagination  and  senses  with  an 
equal  force.  Both  the  young  persons  in  question  possessed 
this  advantage  in  a  high  degree  ;  and  had  there  been  no 
other  peculiarity,  the  sight  might  readily  have  proved 
pleasing  to  one  of  Bluewater's  benevolence  and  truth  of 
feeling.  The  boy  was  turned  of  sixteen  ;  an  age  in  Eng 
land  when  youth  does  not  yet  put  on  the  appearance  of 
manhood  ;  and  he  retained  all  the  evidences  of  a  gay,  gen 
erous  boyhood,  rendered  a  little  piquant  by  the  dash  of 
archness,  roguery,  and  fun,  that  a  man-of-war  is  tolerably 
certain  to  impart  to  a  lad  of  spirit.  Nevertheless,  his 
countenance  retained  an  expression  of  ingenuousness  and 
of  sensitive  feeling  that  was  singularly  striking  in  one  of 
his  sex,  and  which,  in  spite  of  her  beauty  of  feature,  hair, 


158  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

and  complexion,  formed  the  strongest  attraction  in  the 
loveliness  of  Mildred  ;  that  expression  which  had  so  much 
struck  and  charmed  Bluewater — haunted  him,  we  might 
add — since  the  previous  day,  by  appearing  so  familiar,  even 
while  so  extraordinary,  and  for  which  he  had  been  unable 
to  recollect  a  counterpart.  As  she  now  sat,  face  to  face 
with  Lord  Geoffrey,  to  his  great  surprise,  the  Rear-admiral 
found  much  of  the  same  character  of  this  very  expression 
in  the  handsome  boy,  as  in  the  lovely  girl.  It  is  true,  the 
look  of  ingenuousness  and  of  sensitive  feeling  was  far  less 
marked  in  young  Cleveland,  than  in  Mildred,  and  there 
\vas  little  general  resemblance  of  feature  or  countenance 
between  the  two  ;  still,  the  first  was  to  be  found  in  both, 
and  so  distinctly  as  to  be  easily  traced,  when  placed  in  so 
close  contact.  Geoffrey  Cleveland  had  the  reputation  of 
being  like  his  mother  ;  and,  furnished  with  this  clue,  the 
fact  suddenly  flashed  on  Bluewater's  mind,  that  the  being 
whom  Mildred  so  nearly  and  strikingly  resembled  was  a 
deceased  sister  of  the  duchess,  and  a  beloved  cousin  of  his 
own.  Miss  Hedworth,  the  young  lady  in  question,  had 
long  been  dead ;  but  all  who  had  known  her  retained  the 
most  pleasing  impressions  equally  of  her  charms  of  person 
and  of  mind. 

Between  her  and  Bluewater  there  had  existed  a  tender 
friendship,  in  which,  however,  no  shade  of  passion  had 
mingled  ;  a  circumstance  that  was  in  part  owing  to  the 
difference  in  their  years,  Captain  Bluewater  having  been 
nearly  twice  his  young  relative's  age  ;  and  in  part,  proba 
bly,  to  the  invincible  manner  in  which  the  latter  seemed 
wedded  to  his  profession  and  his  ship.  Agnes  Hedworth, 
notwithstanding,  had  been  very  dear  to  our  sailor  from  a 
variety  of  causes — far  more  so  than  her  sister,  the  duchess, 
though  she  was  a  favorite — and  the  Rear-admiral,  when 
his  mind  glanced  rapidly  through  the  chain  of  association 
that  traced  the  accidental  resemblance  of  Mildred  to  the 
esteemed  object,  had  a  sincere  delight  in  finding  he  had 
thus  been  unconsciously  attracted  by  one  whose  every  look 
and  smile  now  forcibly  reminded  him  of  the  countenance 
of  a  being  whom,  in  her  day,  he  had  thought  so  near  per 
fection.  This  delight,  however,  was  blended  with  sadness, 
on  various  accounts  ;  and  the  short  excursion  proved  to 
be  so  melancholy,  that  no  one  was  sorry  when  it  termi 
nated. 


THE    Tll'O   ADMIRALS.  159 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Nat.     Truly,  Master  Holofernes,  the  epithets  are  sweetly  varied,  like  a 
scholar,  at  the  least.      But,  sir,  I  assure  ye,  it  was  a  buck  of  the  first  head. 
IIoL      Sir  Nathaniel,  hand  credo. 
Bull.     'Twas  not  a  hand  credo,  'twas  a  pricket. — Lore's  Labor's  Lost. 

EVERY  appearance  of  the  jolly  negligence  which  had 
been  so  characteristic  of  life  at  Wychecombe  Flail  had 
vanished,  when  the  old  coach  drew  up  in  the  court,  to 
permit  the  party  it  had  brought  from  the  station  to  alight. 
As  no  one  was  expected  but  Mrs.  Button  and  her  daughter, 
not  even  a  footman  appeared  to  open  the  door  of  the  car 
riage  ;  the  vulgar-minded  usually  revenging  their  own 
homage  to  the  powerful,  by  manifesting  as  many  slights 
as  possible  to  the  weak.  Galleygo  let  the  new-comers  out, 
and,  consequently,  he  was  the  first  person  of  whom  inqui 
ries  were  made,  as  to  the  state  of  things  in  the  house. 

"  Well,"  said  Admiral  Bluewater,  looking  earnestly  at 
the  steward  ;  "  how  is  Sir  Wycherly,  and  what  is  the 
news  ? " 

"  Sir  Wycherly  is  still  on  the  Doctor's  list,  your  honor  ; 
and  I  expects  his  case  is  set  down  as  a  hard  'un.  We's  as 
well  as  can  be  expected,  and  altogether  in  good  heart. 
Sir  Jarvy  turned  out  with  the  sun,  thof  he  didn't  turn  in 
till  the  middle- watch  Avas  half  gone — or  two  bells  as  they 
call  'em  aboard  this  house — four  bells,  as  we  should  say  in 
the  old  Planter;  and  chickens,  I  hears,  has  riz,  a  shillin'  a 
head,  since  our  first  boat  landed." 

"It's  a  melancholy  business,  Mrs.  Dutton  ;  I  fear  there 
can  be  little  hope." 

"Yes,  it's  all  that,  Admiral  Blue,"  continued  Galleygo, 
following  the  party  into  the  house,  no  one  but  himself 
hearing  a  word  he  uttered  ;  "and  'twill  be  worse,  afore  it's 
any  better.  They  tell  me  potatoes  has  taken  a  start,  too  ; 
and,  all  the  b'ys  of  all  the  young  gentlemen  in  the  fleet  is 
out,  like  so  many  wild  locusts  of  Hegypt,  I  expects  noth 
ing  better  than  as  our  mess  will  fare  as  bad  as  sogers  on  a 
retreat." 

In  the  hall,  Tom  Wychecombe,  and  his  namesake,  the 
Lieutenant,  met  the  party.  From  the  formal  despond 
ency  of  the  first,  everything  they  apprehended  was  con- 


160  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

firmed.  The  last,  however,  was  more  cheerful,  and  not 
altogether  without  hope  ;  as  he  did  not  hesitate  openly  to 
avow. 

"  For  myself,  I  confess  I  think  Sir  Wycherly  much  bet 
ter,"  he  said  ;  "  although  the  opinion  is  not  sanctioned  by 
that  of  the  medical  men.  His  desiring  to  see  these  ladies 
is  favorable  ;  and  then  cheering  news  for  him  has  been 
brought  back,  already,  by  the  messenger  sent  only  eight 
hours  since,  for  his  kinsman,  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe. 
He  has  sensibly  revived  since  that  report  was  brought  in." 

"Ah!  my  dear  namesake,"  rejoined  Tom,  shaking  his 
head  mournfully  ;  "you  cannot  know  my  beloved  uncle's 
constitution  and  feelings  as  well  as  I  !  Rely  on  it,  the 
medical  men  are  right  ;  and  your  hopes  deceive  you.  The 
sending  for  Mrs.  Dutton  and  Miss  Mildred,  both  of  whom 
my  honored  uncle  respects  and  esteems,  looks  more  like 
leave-taking  than  anything  else  ;  and,  as  to  Sir  Reginald 
Wychecombe — though  a  relative,  beyond  a  question — I 
think  there  has  been  some  mistake  in  sending  for  him  ; 
since  he  is  barely  an  acquaintance  of  the  elder  branch  of 
the  family,  and  he  is  of  the  half-blood." 

"Half  what,  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe?"  demanded 
the  Vice-admiral  so  suddenly  behind  the  speaker,  as  to 
cause  all  to  start  ;  Sir  Gervaise  having  hastened  to  meet 
the  ladies  and  his  friend,  as  soon  as  he  knew  of  their  ar 
rival.  "  I  ask  pardon,  sir,  for  my  abrupt  inquiry  ;  but, 
as  I  was  the  means  of  sending  for  Sir  Reginald  Wyche 
combe,  I  feel  an  interest  in  knowing  his  exact  relationship 
to  my  host  ?  " 

Tom  started,  and  even  paled,  at  this  sudden  question  ; 
then  the  color  rushed  into  his  temples ;  he  became  calmer, 
and  replied  : 

"  Half-blood,  Sir  Gervaise,"  he  said,  steadily.  "  This  is 
an  affinity  that  puts  a  person  altogether  out  of  the  line  of 
succession;  and,  of  course,  removes  any  necessity,  or  wish, 
to  see  Sir  Reginald." 

"Half-blood — hey,  Atwood?"  muttered  the  Vice-ad 
miral,  turning  away  toward  his  secretary,  who  had  followed 
him  down-stairs.  "  This  may  be  the  solution,  after  all ! 
Do  you  happen  to  know  what  half-blood  means  ?  It  can 
not  signify  that  Sir  Reginald  comes  from  one  of  those  who 
have  no  father — all  their  ancestry  consisting  only  of  a 
mother  ? " 

"  I  should  think  not,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  in  that  case,  Sir  Reg- 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  161 

inald  would  scarcely  be  considered  of  so  honorable  a  lin 
eage  as  he  appears  to  be.  I  have  not  the  smallest  idea, 
sir,  what  half-blood  means  ;  and,  perhaps,  it  may  not  be 
amiss  to  inquire  of  the  medical  gentlemen.  Magrath  is 
up-stairs  ;  possibly  he  can  tell  us." 

"  I  rather  think  it  has  something  to  do  with  the  law.  If 
this  out-of-the-way  place,  now,  could  furnish  even  a  lub 
berly  attorney,  we  might  learn  ail  about  it.  Harkee,  At- 
wood  ;  you  must  stand  by  to  make  Sir  Wycheiiy's  will,  if 
he  says  any  more  about  it — have  you  got  the  heading  all 
written  out,  as  I  desired." 

"  It  is  quite  ready,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  beginning,  as  usual, 
*  In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.'  I  have  even  ventured  so  far 
as  to  describe  the  testator's  style  and  residence,  etc.,  etc., 
'  I,  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  Bart.,  of  Wychecombe 
Hall,  Devon,  do  make  and  declare  this  to  be  my  last  will 
and  testament,  etc.,  etc.'  Nothing  is  wanting  but  the  de 
vises,  as  the  lawyers  call  them.  I  can  manage  a  will  well 
enough,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  believe.  One  of  mine  has  been  in 
the  courts,  now,  these  five  years,  and  they  tell  me  it  sticks 
there  as  well  as  if  it  had  been  drawn  in  the  Middle  Tem 
ple." 

"Aye,  I  know  your  skill.  Still,  there  can  be  no  harm 
in  just  asking  Magrath  ;  though  I  think  it  must  be  law 
after'all !  Run  up  and  ask  him,  Atwood,  and  bring  me  the 
answer  in  the  drawing-room,  where  I  see  Bluewater  has 
gone  with  his  convoy  ;  and,  harkee — tell  the  surgeons  to 
let  us  know  the  instant  the  patient  says  anything  about 
his  temporal  affairs.  The  twenty  thousand  in  the  funds 
are  his,  to  do  what  he  pleases  with  ;  let  the  land  be  tied 
up  as  it  may." 

While  this  "  aside  "  was  going  on  in  the  hall,  Bluewater 
and  the  rest  of  the  party  had  entered  a  small  parlor,  that 
was  in  constant  use,  still  conversing  of  the  state  of  Sir 
Wycherly.  As  all  of  them  but  the  two  young  men  were 
ignorant  of  the  nature  of  the  message 'to  Sir  Reginald 
Wychecombe,  and  of  the  intelligence  in  connection  with 
that  gentleman,  which  had  just  been  received,  Mrs.  Button 
ventured  to  ask  an  explanation,  which  was  given  by  Wych 
erly,  with  a  readiness  that  proved  he  felt  no  apprehensions 
on  the  subject. 

"  Sir  Wycherly  desired  to  see  his  distant  relative,  Sir 
Reginald,"  said  the  Lieutenant ;  "  and  the  messenger  who 
was  sent  to  request  his  attendance  fortunately  learned 
ii 


1 62  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

from  a  post-boy,  that  the  Hertfordshire  Baronet,  in 
mon  with  many  other  gentlemen,  is  travelling  in  the 
just  at  this  moment  ;  and  that  he  slept,  last  night,  at  a 
house  only  twenty  miles  distant.  The  express  reached  him 
several  hours  since,  and  an  answer  has  been  received,  in 
forming  us  that  we  may  expect  to  see  him  in  an  hour  or 
two." 

Thus  much  was  related  by  Wycherly  ;  but  we  may  add, 
that  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  was  a  Catholic,  as  it  was 
then  usual  to  term  the  Romanists,  and  in  secret,  a  Jacobite 
— and,  in  common  with  many  of  that  religious  persuasion, 
he  was  down  in  the  West,  to  see  if  a  rising  could  not  be 
organized  in  that  part  of  the  kingdom,  as  a  diversion  to 
any  attempt  to  repel  the  young  Pretender  in  the  North. 
As  the  utmost  caution  was  used  by  the  conspirators,  this 
fact  was  not  even  suspected  by  any  who  were  not  in  the 
secret  of  the  whole  proceeding.  Understanding  that  his 
relation  was  an  inefficient  old  man,  Sir  Reginald,  himself 
an  active  and  sagacious  intriguer,  had  approached  thus 
near  to  the  old  paternal  residence  of  his  family,  in  order 
to  ascertain  if  his  own  name  and  descent  might  not  aid 
him  in  obtaining  levies  among  the  ancient  tenantry  of  the 
estate.  That  day  he  had  actually  intended  to  appear  at 
Wychecombe,  disguised,  and  under  an  assumed  name.  He 
proposed  venturing  on  this  step,  because  circumstances 
put  it  in  his  power  to  give  what  he  thought  would  be  re 
ceived  as  a  sufficient  excuse,  should  his  conduct  excite 
comment. 

Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  was  a  singular,  but  by  no 
means  an  unnatural  compound  of  management  and  in 
tegrity.  His  position  as  a  Papist  had  disposed  him  to  in 
trigue,  while  his  position  as  one  proscribed  by  religious 
hostility,  had  disposed  him  to  be  a  Papist.  Thousands  are 
made  men  of  activity,  and  even  of  importance,  by  persecu 
tion  and  proscription,  who  would  pass  through  life  quietly 
and  unnoticed,  if  the  meddling  hand  of  human  forethought 
did  not  force  them  into  situations  that  awaken  their  hos 
tility  and  quicken  their  powers.  This  gentleman  was  a 
firm  believer  in  all  the  traditions  of  his  church,  though  his 
learning  extended  little  beyond  his  missal — and  he  put  the 
most  implicit  reliance  on  the  absurd,  because  improbable, 
fiction  of  the  Nag's  Head  consecration,  without  having 
even  deemed  it  necessary  to  look  into  a  particle  of  that 
testimony  by  which  alone  such  a  controversy  could  be  de- 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  163 

cided.  In  a  word,  he  was  an  instance  of  what  religious 
intolerance  has  ever  done,  and  will  probably  forever  con 
tinue  to  do,  with  so  wayward  a  being  as  rnan. 

Apart  from  this  weakness,  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe 
had  both  a  shrewd  and  an  inquiring  mind.  His  religion 
he  left  very  much  to  the  priests — but  of  his  temporal  af 
fairs  he  assumed  a  careful  and  prudent  supervision.  He 
was  much  richer  than  the  head  of  the  family  ;  but,  while 
he  had  no  meannesses  connected  with  money,  he  had  no 
objection  to  be  the  possessor  of  the  old  family  estates.  Of 
his  old  relation  to  the  head  of  this  family,  he  was  perfectly 
aware,  and  the  circumstance  of  the  half-blood,  with  ail  its 
legal  consequences,  was  no  secret  to  him.  Sir  Reginald 
Wychecombe  was  not  a  man  to  be  so  situated,  without 
having  recourse  to  all  proper  means,  in  order,  as  it  has 
become  the  fashion  of  the  day  to  express  it,  "to  define  his 
position."  By  means  of  a  shrewd  attorney,  if  not  of  his 
own  religious,  at  least  of  his  own  political  opinions,  he  had 
ascertained  the  fact,  and  this  from  the  mouth  of  Martha 
herself,  that  Baron  Wychecombe  had  never  married  ;  and 
that,  consequently,  Tom  and  his  brothers  were  no  more 
heirs -at-lawr  to  the  Wychecombe  estate,  than  he  wras  in  his 
own  person. 

He  fully  understood,  too,  that  there  was  no  heir-at-law  ; 
and  that  the  lands  must  escheat,  unless  the  present  owner 
made  a  will  ;  and  to  this  last  act,  his  precise  information 
told  him  that  Sir  Wycherly  had  an  unconquerable  reluc 
tance.  Under  such  circumstances,  it  is  not  at  all  surpris 
ing,  that  when  the  Hertfordshire  Baronet  was  thus  unex 
pectedly  summoned  to  the  bedside  of  his  distant  kinsman, 
he  inferred  that  his  own  claims  were  at  length  to  be  tardily 
acknowledged,  and  that  he  was  about  to  be  put  in  posses 
sion  of  the  estates  of  his  legitimate  ancestors.  It  is  still 
less  wonderful,  that,  believing  this,  he  promptly  promised 
to  lose  no  time  in  obeying  the  summons,  determining  mo 
mentarily  to  forget  his  political,  in  order  to  look  a  little 
after  his  personal'interests. 

The  reader  will  understand,  of  course,  that  all  these  de 
tails  were  unknown  to  the  inmates  of  the  Hall,  beyond  the 
fact  of  the  expected  arrival  of  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe, 
and  that  of  the  circumstance  of  the  half  blood,  which,  in 
its  true  bearing,  wTas  known  alone  to  Tom.  Their  thoughts 
were  directed  toward  the  situation  of  their  host,  and  little 
was  said  or  done  that  had  not  his  immediate  condition  for 


1 64  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

the  object  It  being  understood,  however,  that  the  sur 
geons  kept  the  sick-chamber  closed  against  all  visitors,  a 
silent  and  melancholy  breakfast  was  taken  by  the  whole 
party,  in  waiting  for  the  moment  when  they  might  be 
admitted.  When  this  cheerless  meal  was  ended,  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  desired  Bluewaterto  follow  him  to  his  room,  whither 
he  led  the  way  in  person. 

"  It  is  possible,  certainly,  that  Vervillin  is  out,"  com 
menced  the  Vice-admiral,  when  they  were  alone  ;  "  but  we 
shall  know  more  about  it  when  the  cutter  gets  in  and  re 
ports.  You  saw  nothing  but  her  number,  I  think  you  told 
me  ? " 

"She  was  at  work  with  private  signals,  when  I  left  the 
headland  ;  of  course  I  was  unable  to  read  them  without  the 
book." 

"  That  Vervillin  is  a  good  fellow,"  returned  SirGervaise, 
rubbing  his  hands — a  way  he  had  when  much  pleased — 
"  and  has  stuff  in  him.  He  has  thirteen  two-decked  ships, 
Dick,  and  that  will  be  one  apiece  for  our  captains,  and  a 
spare  one  for  each  of  our  flags.  I  believe  there  is  no 
three-decker  in  that  squadron  ? " 

"  There  you've  made  a  small  mistake,  Sir  Gervaise,  as 
the  Comte  de  Vervillin  had  his  flag  in  the  largest  three- 
decker  in  France  ;  Le  Bourbon,  120.  The  rest  of  his  ships 
are  like  our  own,  though  much  fuller  manned." 

"  Never  mind,  Blue — never  mind  ;  we'll  put  two  on  the 
Bourbon,  and  try  to  make  our  frigates  of  use.  Besides, 
you  have  a  knack  at  keeping  the  fleet  so  compact,  that  it 
is  nearly  a  single  battery." 

"  May  I  venture  to  ask,  then,  if  it  is  your  intention  to  go 
out,  should  the  news  by  the  Active  prove  to  be  what  you 
anticipate  ?" 

Sir  Gervaise  cast  a  quick,  distrustful  glance  at  the  other, 
anxious  to  read  the  motive  for  the  question,  at  the  same 
time  that  he  did  not  wish  to  betray  his  own  feelings  ;  then 
he  appeared  to  meditate  on  the  answer. 

"  It  is  not  quite  agreeable  to  lie  here,  chafing  our  cables, 
with  a  French  squadron  roving  the  channel,"  he  said  ; 
"  but  I  rather  think  it's  my  duty  to  wait  for  orders  from 
the  Admiralty,  under  present  circumstances." 

"Do  you  expect  my  lords  will  send  you  through  the 
Straits  of  Dover  to  blockade  the  Frith  ?" 

"  If  they  do,  Bluewater,  I  shall  hope  for  your  company. 
I  trust  a  night's  rest  has  given  you  different  views  of 


THE    Tll'O   ADMIRALS.  165 

what  ought  to  be  a  seaman's  duty,  when  his  country  is  at 
open  war  with  her  ancient  and  most  powerful  enemies." 

"  It  is  the  prerogative  of  the  crown  to  declare  war, 
Cakes.  No  one  but  a  lawful  sovereign  can  make  a  lawful 
war." 

"Aye,  here  come  your  cursed  distinctions  about  de jure 
and  de  facto,  again.  By  the  way,  Dick,  you  are  something 
of  a  scholar — can  you  tell  me  what  is  understood  by  call 
ing  a  man  nullus  ?  " 

Admiral  Bluewater,  who  had  taken  his  usual  lolling  at 
titude  in  the  most  comfortable  chair  he  could  find,  while 
his  more  mercurial  friend  kept  pacing  the  room,  now 
raised  his  head  in  surprise,  following  the  quick  motions  of 
the  other  with  his  eyes,  as  if  he  doubted  whether  he  had 
rightly  heard  the  question. 

*""  It's  plain  English,  is  it  not  ? — or  plain  Latin,  if  you 
will  ;  what  is  meant  by  calling  a  man  a  nullus?"  repeated 
Sir  Gervaise,  observing  the  other's  manner. 

"  The  Latin  is  plain  enough,  certainly,"  returned  Blue- 
water,  smiling  ;  "you  surely  do  not  mean  nullus,  nulla,nul- 
lum  ?  " 

"  Exactly  that— you've  hit  it  to  a  gender.  Nullus,  nulla, 
niillum.  No  man,  no  woman,  no  thing.  Masculine,  femi 
nine,  neuter." 

"  I  never  heard  the  saying.  If  ever  used,  it  must  be 
some  silly  ptay  on  sounds,  and  mean  a  numskull — or,  per 
haps,  a  fling  at  a  fellow's  position,  by  saying  he  is  a  *  no 
body.'  Who  the  deuce  has  been  calling  another  a  nullus, 
in  the  presence  of  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  southern 
squadron  ? " 

"Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe — our  unfortunate  host, 
here  ;  the  poor  man  who  is  on  his  death-bed  on  this  very 
floor." 

Again  Bluewater  raised  his  head,  and  once  more  his  eye 
sought  the  face  of  his  friend.  Sir  Gervaise  had  now 
stopped  short,  with  his  hands  crossed  behind  his  back, 
looking  intently  at  the  other,  in  expectation  of  the  answer. 

"  I  thought  it  might  be  some  difficulty  from  the  fleet — 
some  silly  fellow  complaining  of  another  still  more  silly 
for  using  such  a  word.  Sir  Wycherly  !  The  poor  man's 
mind  must  have  failed  him." 

"  I  rather  think  not  ;  if  it  has,  there  is  'method  in  his 
madness,'  for  he  persevered  most  surprisingly  in  the  use 
of  the  term.  His  nephew,  Torn  Wychecombe,  the  pre- 


1 66  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

sumptive  heir,  he  insists  on  it,  is  a  nullus  ;  while  this  Sir 
Reginald,  who  is  expected  to  arrive  every  instant,  he  says, 
is  only  half — or  half-blood,  as  it  has  since  been  explained 
to  us." 

"  I  am  afraid  this  nephew  will  prove  to  be  anything  but 
nullus,  when  he  succeeds  to  the  estate  and  title,"  answered 
Bluewater,  gravely.  "A  more  sinister-looking  scoundrel 
I  never  laid  eyes  on." 

"  That  is  just  my  way  of  thinking  ;  and  not  in  the  least 
like  the  family." 

"  This  matter  of  likenesses  is  not  easily  explained,  Oakes. 
We  see  parents  and  children  without  any  visible  resem 
blance  to  each  other  ;  and  then  we  find  startling  likenesses 
between  utter  strangers." 

"  Bachelors'  children  may  be  in  that  predicament,  cer 
tainly  ;  but  I  should  think  few  others.  I  never  yet  studied 
a  child,  that  I  did  not  find  some  resemblance  to  both  par 
ents  ;  covert  and  only  transitory,  perhaps  ;  but  a  likeness 
so  distinct  as  to  establish  the  relationship.  What  an  ac 
cursed  chance  it  is,  that  our  noble  yoiiLg  Lieutenant 
should  have  no  claim  on  this  old  Baronet — while  this 

d d   nullus  is  both   heir-at-law,   and   heir  of  entail  !     I 

never  took  half  as  much  interest  in  any  other  man's  estate, 
as  I  take  in  the  succession  to  this  of  our  poor  host !  " 

"  There  you  are  mistaken,  Oakes ;  you  took  more  in 
mine  ;  for,  when  I  made  a  will  in  your  own  favor,  and 
gave  it  to  you  to  read,  you  tore  it  in  two.  and  threw  it 
overboard,  with  your  own  hand." 

"  Aye,  that  was  an  act  of  lawful  authority.  As  your 
superior,  I  countermanded  that  will  !  I  hope  you've  made 
another,  and  given  your  money,  as  I  told  you,  to  your 
cousin,  the  viscount." 

"  I  did,  but  that  will  has  shared  the  fate  of  the  first. 
It  appearing  to  me  that  we  are  touching  on  serious  times, 
and  Bluewater  being  rich  already,  I  destroyed  the  devise 
in  his  favor,  and  made  a  new  one,  this  very  morning.  As 
you  are  my  executor,  as  usual,  it  may  be  well  to  let  you 
know  it." 

"  Dick,  you  have  not  been  mad  enough  to  cut  off  the 
head  of  your  own  family — your  own  flesh  and  blood,  as  it 
might  be — to  leave  the  few  thousands  you  own  to  this  mad 
adventurer  in  Scotland  !  " 

Bluewater  smiled  at  this  evidence  of  the  familiarity  of 
his  friend  with  his  own  way  of  thinking  and  feeling  ;  and, 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  167 

for  a  single  instant,  he  regretted  that  he  had  not  put  his 
first  intention  in  force,  in  order  that  the  conformity  of 
views  might  have  been  still  more  perfect ;  but  putting  a 
hand  in  his  pocket  he  drew  out  the  document  itself,  and 
leaning  forward,  gave  it  carelessly  to  Sir  Gervaise. 

"  There  is  the  will  ;  and  by  looking  it  over,  you  will  know 
what  I've  done,"  he  said.  "  I  wish  y«ti  would  keep  it  ;  for, 
if  '  Misery  makes  us  acquainted  with  strange  bed- fellows,' 
revolutions  reduce  us  often  to  strange  plights,  and  the  paper 
will  be  safer  with  you  than  with  me.  Of  course  you  will 
keep  my  secret  until  the  proper  time  to  reveal  it  shall  ar 
rive." 

The  Vice-admiral,  who  knew  he  had  no  interest  in  his 
friend's  disposition  of  his  property,  took  the  will,  with  a 
good  deal  of  curiosity  to  ascertain  its  provisions.  So  short 
a  testament  was  soon  read  ;  and  his  eye  rested  intently  on 
the  paper  until  it  had  taken  in  the  last  word.  Then  his 
hand  dropped,  and  he  regarded  Bluewater  with  a  surprise 
he  neither  affected,  nor  wished  to  conceal.  He  did  not 
doubt  his  friend's  sanity,  but  he  greatly  questioned  his 
discretion. 

"This  is  a  very  simple,  but  a  very  ingenious  arrange 
ment  to  disturb  the  order  of  society,"  he  said;  "  and  to 
convert  a  very  modest  and  unpretending,  though  lovely 
girl,  into  a  fonvard  and  airs-taking  old  woman  !  What  is 
this  Mildred  Button  to  you,  that  you  should  bequeath  to 
her 


"  She  is  one  of  the  meekest,  most  ingenuous,  purest,  and 
loveliest  of  her  meek,  ingenuous,  pure,  and  lovely  sex, 
crushed  to  the  earth  by  the  curse  of  a  brutal,  drunken 
father  ;  and  I  am  resolute  to  see  that  this  world,  for  once, 
affords  some  compensation  for  its  own  miseries." 

"  Never  doubt  that,  Richard  Bluewater  ;  never  doubt 
that.  So  certain  is  vice,  or  crime  to  bring  its  own  punish 
ment  in  this  life,  that  any  one  may  well  question  if  any 
other  hell  is  needed.  And^  depend  on  it,  your  meek,  mod 
est  ingenuousness,  in  its  turn,  will  not  go  unrewarded." 

"Quite  true,  so  far  as  the  spirit  is  concerned;  but  I 
mean  to  provide  a  little  for  the  comfort  of  the  body.  You 
remember  Agnes  Hedworth,  I  take  it  for  granted."' 

"Remember  her!— out  of  all  question.  Had  the  war 
left  me  leisure  for  making  love,  she  was  the  only  woman  I 
ever  knew  who  could  have  brought  me  to  her  feet  ;  I  mean 
as  a  dog,  Dick." 


168  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

tl  Do  you  see  any  resemblance  between  her  and  this  Mil 
dred  Button?  It  is  in  the  expression  rather  than  in  the 
features  ;  but  it  is  the  expression  which  alone  denotes  the 
character." 

"  By  George,  you're  right,  Bluewater ;  and  this  relieves 
me  from  some  embarrassment  I've  felt  about  that  very  ex 
pression  of  which  you,speak.  She  is  like  poor  Agnes,  who 
became  a  saint  earlier  than  any  of  us  could  have  wished. 
Living  or  dead,  Agnes  Hedworth  must  be  an  angel  !  You 
were  fonder  of  her  than  of  any  other  woman,  I  believe. 
At  one  time,  I  thought  you  might  propose  for  her  hand." 

"  It  was  not  that  sort  of  affection,  and  you  could  not  have 
known  her  private  history,  or  you  would  not  have  fancied 
this.  I  was  so  situated  in  the  way  of  relatives,  that  Agnes, 
though  only  the  child  of  a  cousin-german,  was  the  nearest 
youthful  female  relative  I  had  on  earth  ;  and  I  regarded 
her  more  as  a  sister,  than  as  a  creature  who  could  ever  be 
come  my  wife.  She  was  sixteen  years  my  junior  ;  and  by 
the  time  she  was  old  enough  to  marry,  I  was  accustomed 
to  think  of  her  only  as  one  destined  to  fill  another  station. 
The  same  feeling  existed  as  to  her  sister,  the  Duchess, 
though  in  a  greatly  lessened  degree." 

"  Poor,  sweet  Agnes !  and  it  is  on  account  of  this  acci 
dental  resemblance,  that  you  have  determined  to  make  the 
daughter  of  a  drunken  sailing-master  your  heiress  ? " 

"  Not  altogether  so  ;  the  will  was  drawn  before  I  was 
conscious  that  the  likeness  existed.  Still,  it  has  probably, 
unknown  to  myself,  greatly  disposed  me  to  view  her  with 
favor.  But,  Gervaise,  Agnes  herself  was  not  fairer  in  per 
son,  or  more  lovely  in  mind,  than  this  very  Mildred 
Dutton." 

"  Well,  you  have  not  been  accustomed  to  regard  her  as 
a  sister !  and  she  has  become  marriageable,  without  there 
having  been  any  opportunity  for  your  regarding  her  as  so 
peculiarly  sacred,  Dick!"  returned  Sir  Gervaise,  half 
suppressing  a  smile  as  he  threw  a  quiet  glance  at  his 
friend. 

"You  know  this  to  be  idle,  Oakes.  Some  one  must  in 
herit  my  money  ;  my  brother  is  long  since  dead  ;  even 
poor,  poor  Agnes  is  gone  ;  her  sister  don't  need  it  ;  Blue- 
water  is  an  over-rich  bachelor,  already  ;  you  won't  take  it, 
and  what  better  can  I  do  with  it  ?  If  you  could  have  seen 
the  cruel  manner  in  which  the  spirits  of  both  mother  and 
daughter  were  crushed  to  the  earth  last  night,  by  that 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  169 

beast  of  a  husband  and  father,  you  would  have  felt  a  desire 
to  relieve  their  misery,  even  though  it  had  cost  you  -Bowl- 
dero,  and  half  your  money  in  the  funds." 

"  Umph !  Bowldero  has  been  in  my  family  five  centuries, 
and  is  likely  to  remain  there,  Master  Bluewater,  five  more  ; 
unless,  indeed,  your  dashing  Pretender  should  succeed,  and 
take  it  away  by  confiscation." 

"  There,  again,  was  another  inducement.  Should  I 
leave  my  cash  to  a  rich  person,  and  should  chance  put  me 
on  the  wrong  side  in  this  struggle,  the  king  de  facto  would 
get  it  all  ;  whereas,  even  a  German  would  not  have  the 
heart  to  rob  a  poor  creature  like  Mildred  of  her  support." 

"The  Scotch  are  notorious  for  bowels,  in  such  matters! 
Well,  have  it  your  own  way,  Dick.  It's  of  no  great 
moment  what  you  do  with  your  prize-money  ;  though  I 
had  supposed  it  would  fall  into  the  hands  of  this  boy, 
Geoffrey  Cleveland,  who  is  no  discredit  to  your  blood." 

"  He  will  have  a  hundred  thousand  pounds,  at  five-and- 
twenty,  that  were  left  him  by  old  Lady  Greenfield,  his 
great-aunt,  and  that  is  more  than  he  will  know  what  to  do 
with.  But,  enough  of  this.  Have  you  received  further 
tidings  from  the  north,  during  the  night?" 

"  Not  a  syllable.  This  is  a  retired  part  of  the  country  ; 
and  half  Scotland  might  be  capsized  in  one  of  its  lochs, 
and  wre  not  know  of  it,  for  a  week,  down  here  in  Devon 
shire.  Should  I  get  no  intelligence  or  orders,  in  the  next 
thirty-six  hours,  I  think  of  posting  up  to  London,  leaving 
you  in  command  of  the  fleet." 

"That  may  not  be  wise.  You  would  scarcely  confide  so 
important  a  trust,  in  such  a  crisis,  to  a  man  of  my  political 
feelings — I  will  not  say  opinions  ;  since  you  attribute  all 
to  sentiment." 

"  I  would  confide  my  life  and  honor  to  you,  Richard 
Bluewater,  with  the  utmost  confidence  in  the  security  of 
both,  so  long  as  it  depended  on  your  own  acts  or  inclina 
tions.  We  must  first  see,  however,  what  news  the  Active 
brings  us  ;  for,  if  De  Vervillin  is  really  out,  I  shall  assume 
that  the  duty  of  an  English  sailor  is  to  beat  a  Frenchman, 
before  all  other  considerations." 

"If  he  can,"  dryly  observed  the  other,  raising  his  right 
leg  so  high  as  to  place  the  foot  on  the  top  of  an  old-fash 
ioned  chair  ;  an  effort  that  nearly  brought  his  back  in  a 
horizontal  line. 

"  I  am  far  from  regarding  it  as  a  matter  of  course,  Ad- 


170  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

miral  Bluewater  ;  but  it  has  been  done  sufficiently  often  to 
render  it  an  event  of  no  very  violent  possibility.  Ah,  here 
is  Magrath  to  tell  us  the  condition  of  his  patient." 

The  surgeon  of  the  Plantagenet  entering  the  room,  at 
that  moment,  the  conversation  was  instantly  changed. 

"Well,  Magrath,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  stopping  suddenly 
in  his  quarter-deck  pace  ;  "what  news  of  the  poor  man  ?" 

"  He  is  reviving,  Admiral  Oakes,"  returned  the  phleg 
matic  surgeon  ;  "  but  it  is  like  the  gleaming  of  sunshine 
that  streams  through  clouds,  as  the  great  luminary  sets  be 
hind  the  hill "  ' 

"  O  !  hang  your  poetry,  doctor  ;  let  us  have  nothing  but 
plain  matter-of-fact,  this  morning." 

"Well,  then,  Sir  Gervaise,  as  commander-in-chief,  you'll 
be  obeyed,  I  think.  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecomb  is  suffering 
under  an  attack  of  apoplexy — or  apoplexis,  as  the  Greeks 
had  it.  The  diagnosis  of  the  disease  is  not  easily  mistaken, 
though  it  has  its  affinities  as  well  as  other  maladies.  The 
application  for  gout,  or  arthritis,  sometimes  produce  apo 
plexy  ;  though  one  disease  is  seated  in  the  head,  while  the 
other  usually  takes  refuge  in  the  feet.  Ye'll  understand 
this  the  more  readily,  gentlemen,  when  ye  reflect  that  as  a 
thief  is  chased  from  one  hiding-place,  he  commonly  en 
deavors  to  get  into  another.  I  much  misgive  the  prudence 
of  the  phlebotomy  ye  practised  among  ye,  on  the  first 
summons  to  the  patient." 

"What  the  d 1  does  the  man  mean  by  phlebotomy  ?" 

exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise,  who  had  an  aversion  to  medicine, 
and  knew  scarcely  any  of  the  commonest  terms  of  practice, 
though  expert  in  bleeding. 

"I'm  thinking  it's  what  you  and  Admiral  Bluewater  so 
freely  administer  to  his  Majesty's  enemies,  whenever  ye 
fall  in  with  'em  at  sea  ;  he,  he,  he,"  answered  Magrath, 
chuckling  at  his  own  humor  ;  which,  as  the  quantity  was 
small,  was  all  the  better  in  quality. 

"  Surely  he  does  not  mean  powder  and  shot !  We  give 
the  French  shot ;  Sir  Wycherly  has  not  been  shot  ? " 

"  Varra  true,  Sir  Gervaise,  but  ye've  lot  him  blood 
amang  ye  ;  a  measure  that  has  been  somewhat  precipi 
tately  practised,  I've  my  misgivings." 

"  Now,  any  old  woman  can  tell  us  better  than  that,  doc 
tor.  Blood-letting  is  the  every-day  remedy  for  attacks  of 
this  sort." 

"  I  do  not  dispute  the  dogmas  of  elderly  persons  of  the 


THE    Tiro   ADMIRALS.  171 

other  sex,  Sir  Gervaise,  or  your  e very-day  remedia.  If 
*e very-day*  doctors  would  save  life  and  alleviate  pain,  di 
plomas  would  be  unnecessary  ;  and  we  might,  all  of  us, 
practice  on  the  principle  of  the  'De'el  tak'  the  hindmaist,1 
as  ye  did  yoursel',  Sir  Gervaise,  when  ye  cut  and  slashed 
am'ang  the  Dons,  in  boarding  El  Lirio.  I  was  there,  ye'll 
both  remember,  gentlemen;  and  was  obleeged  to  sew  up 
the  gashes  ye  made  with  your  own  irreverent  and  ungodly 
hands." 

This  speech  referred  to  one  of  the  most  desperate  hand-to- 
hand  struggles,  in  which  the  two  flag  officers  had  ever  been 
engaged  ;  and,  as  it  afforded  them  the  means  of  exhibiting 
their  personal  gallantry,  when  quite  young  men,  both  usu 
ally  looked  back  upon  the  exploit  with  great  self-compla 
cency  ;  Sir  Gervaise,  in  particular,  his  friend  having  often 
declared  since,  that  they  ought  to  have  been  laid  on  the 
shelf  for  life,  as  a  punishment  for  risking  their  men  in  so 
mad  an  enterprise,  though  it  did  prove  to  be  brilliantly 
successful. 

"That  was  an  affair  in  which  one  might  engage  at 
twenty  two,  Magrath,"  observed  Bluewater ;  "  but  which 
lie  ought  to  hesitate  about  thinking  of  even,  after  thirty." 

"  I  would  do  it  again,  this  blessed  day,  if  you  would  give 
us  a  chance  ! "  exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise,  striking  the  back 
of  one  hand  into  the  palm  of  the  other,  with  a  sudden  en 
ergy,  that  showed  how  much  he  was  excited  by  the  mere 
recollection  of  the  scene. 

"  That  w'ud  ye  ! — that  w'ud  ye  !  "  said  Magrath,  growing 
more  and  more  Scotch,  as  he  warmed  in  the  discourse  ; 
"ye'd  board  a  mackeral-hoy,  rather  than  not  have  an  en 
gagement.  Ya'r  a  vara  capital  Vice-admiral  of  the  red, 
Sir  Gervaise,  but  I'm  judging  ye'd  mak'  a  vara  indeeferent 
loblollyboy." 

"  Bluewater,  I  shall  be  compelled  to  change  ships  with 
you,  in  order  to  get  rid  of  the  standbys  of  the  Plantagenet ! 
They  stick  to  me  like  leeches  ;  and  have  got  to  be  so  fa 
miliar,  that  they  criticise  all  my  orders  and  don't  more 
than  half  obey  them,  in  the  bargain." 

"  No  one  will  criticise  your  nautical  commands,  Sir 
Gervaise  ;  though,  in  the  way  of  the  healing  airt — science, 
it  should  be  called — ye're  no  maire  to  be  trusted  than  one 
of  the  young  gentlemen.  I'm  told  you  drew  your  lancet 
on  this  poor  gentleman,  as  ye'd  draw  ye'r  sword  on  an 
enemv  ! " 


172  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"I  did,  indeed,  sir;  though  Mr.  Rotherham  had  ren 
dered  the  application  of  the  instrument  unnecessary. 
Apoplexy  is  a  rushing  of  the  blood  to  the  head ;  and  by 
diminishing  the  quantity  in  the  veins  of  the  arms  or  tem 
ples,  you  lessen  the  pressure  on  the  brain." 

"Just  layman's  practice,  sir — just  layman's  practice. 
Will  you  tell  me  now  if  the  patient's  face  was  red  or  white  ? 
Everything  depends  on  that  ;  which  is  the  true  diagnosis 
of  the  malady." 

"  Red,  I  think;  was  it  not,  Bluewater?  Red,  like  old 
port,  of  which  I  fancy  the  poor  man  had  more  than  his 
share." 

"  Well,  in  that  case,  you  were  not  so  varra  wrong  ;  but 
they  tell  me  his  countenance  was  pallid  and  death-like  ;  in 
which  case  ye  came  near  to  committing  murder.  There  is 
one  principle  that  controls  the  diagnosis  of  all  cases  of 
apoplexy  among  ye'r  true  country  gentleman,  and  that  is, 
that  the  system  is  reduced  and  enfeebled,  by  habitual  de 
votion  to  the  decanter.  In  such  attacks  ye  canna'  do 
warse  than  to  let  blood.  But  I'll  no  be  hard  upon  you, 
Sir  Gervaise;  and  so  we'll  drop  the  subject— though, 
truth  to  say,  I  do  not  admire  your  poaching  on  my  manor. 
Sir  Wycherly  is  materially  better,  and  expresses,  as  well 
as  a  man  who  has  not  the  use  of  his  tongue,  can  express  a 
thing,  his  besetting  desire  to  make  his  last  will  and  testa 
ment.  In  ordinary  cases  of  apoplexia,  it  is  a  good  practice 
to  oppose  this  craving  ;  though,  as  it  is  my  firm  opinion 
that  nothing  can  save  the  patient's  life,  I  do  not  set  myself 
against  the  measure,  in  this  particular  case.  Thar'  was  a 
curious  discussion  at  Edinbro',  in  my  youth,  gentlemen, 
on  the  question  whether  the  considerations  connected  with 
the  disposition  of  the  property,  or  the  considerations  con 
nected  with  the  patient's  health,  ought  to  preponderate  in 
the  physician's  mind,  when  it  might  be  reasonably  doubted 
whether  the  act  of  making  a  will,  would  or  would  not 
essentially  affect  the  nervous  system,  or  otherwise  derange 
the  functions  of  the  body.  A  very  pretty  argument,  in 
excellent  Edinbro'  Latin,  was  made  on  each  side  of  the 
question.  I  think,  on  the  whole,  the  physicos  had  the 
best  o'  it ;  for  they  could  show  a  plausible  present  evil  as 
opposed  to  a  possible  remote  good." 

"  Has  Sir  Wycherly  mentioned  my  name  this  morning  ?" 
asked  the  Vice-admiral,  with  interest. 

"  He  has,  indeed,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  and  that  in  a  way  so 


THE   TWO 

manifestly  connected  with  his 
no  be  forgotten  in  the  legacies, 
was  in  his  mouth  also." 

"  In  which  case  no  time  should  be  lost" r^forfScfer  before 
have  I  felt  half  the  interest  in  the  disposition  of  a  stranger's 
estate  !  Hark  !  Are  not  those  wheels  rattling  in  the  court 
yard  ? " 

"Ye'r  senses  are  most  perfect,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  that 
I've  always  said  was  one  reason  why  ye're  so  great  an  ad 
miral,"  returned  Magrath.  "  Mind,  only  one,  Sir  Gervaise  ; 
for  many  qualities  united,  are  necessary  to  make  a  truly 
great  man.  I  see  a  middle-aged  gentleman  alighting,  and 
servants  around  him,  who  wear  the  same  liveries  as  those 
of  this  house.  Some  relative,  no  doubt,  come  to  look  after 
the  legacies  also." 

"This  must  be  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  ;  it  may  not 
be  amiss  if  we  go  fonvard  to  receive  him,  Bluewater." 

At  this  suggestion,  the  Rear-admiral  drew  in  his  legs, 
which  had  not  changed  their  position  on  account  of  the 
presence  of  the  surgeon,  arose,  and  followed  Sir  Gervaise, 
as  the  latter  left  the  room. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Videsne  quis  venit  ? 

Video,  et  gaudeo. — Love's  labor's  Lost. 

TOM  WYCHECOMBE  had  experienced  an  uneasiness  that 
it  is  unnecessary  to  explain,  ever  since  he  learned  that  his 
reputed  uncle  had  sent  a  messenger  to  bring  the  "half- 
blood  "  to  the  Hall.  From  the  moment  he  got  a  clew  to 
the  fact,  he  took  sufficient  pains  to  ascertain  what  was  in 
the  wind  ;  and  when  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  entered 
the  house,  the  first  person  he  met  was  this  spurious  sup 
porter  of  the  honors  of  his  name. 

"  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,  I  presume,  from  the  arms 
and  the  liveries,"  said  Tom,  endeavoring  to  assume  the 
manner  of  a  host  "  It  is  grateful  to  find  that,  though  we 
are  separated  by  quite  two  centuries,  all  the  usages  and 
the  bearings  of  the  family  are  equally  preserved  and  re 
spected,  by  both  its  branches." 

"  I  am  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,  sir,  and  endeavor  not 


174  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

to  forget  the  honorable  ancestry  from  which  I  am  derived. 
May  I  ask  what  kinsman  I  have  the  pleasure  now  to  meet?" 

"  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  sir,  at  your  command;  the 
eldest  son  of  Sir  Wycherly's  next  brother,  the  late  Mr. 
Baron  Wychecombe.  I  trust,  Sir  Reginald,  you  have  not 
considered  us  so  far  removed  in  blood,  as  to  have  entirely 
overlooked  our  births,  marriages,  and  deaths." 

"  I  have  not,  sir,"  returned  the  Baronet,  dryly,  and  with 
an  emphasis  that  disturbed  his  listener,  though  the  cold, 
Jesuitical  smile  that  accompanied  the  words  had  the  effect 
to  calm  his  vivid  apprehensions.  "All  that  relates  to  the 
house  of  Wychecombe  has  interest  in  my  eyes  ;  and  I  have 
endeavored,  successfully,  I  trust,  to  ascertain  all  that  re 
lates  to  its  births,  marriages,  and  deaths.  I  greatly  regret 
that  the  second  time  I  enter  this  venerable  dwelling,  should 
be  on  an  occasion  as  melancholy  as  this,  on  which  I  am 
now  summoned.  How  is  your  respectable — how  is  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe,  I  wish  to  say  ? " 

There  was  sufficient  in  this  answer,  taken  in  connection 
with  the  deliberate,  guarded,  and  yet  expressive  manner 
of  the  speaker,  to  make  Tom  extremely  uncomfortable, 
though  there  was  also  sufficient  to  leave  him  in  doubt  as 
to  -his  namesake's  true  meaning.  The  words  emphasized 
by  the  latter  were  touched  lightly,  though  distinctly  ;  and 
the  cold,  artificial  smile  with  which  they  were  uttered, 
completely  baffled  the  sagacity  of  a  rogue  as  common 
place  as  the  heir-expectant.  Then  the  sudden  change  in 
the  construction  of  the  last  sentence,  and  the  substitution 
of  the  name  of  the  person  mentioned,  for  the  degree  of 
affinity  in  which  he  was  supposed  to  stand  to  Tom,  might 
be  merely  a  rigid  observance  of  the  best  tone  of  society, 
or  it  might  be  equivocal.  All  these  little  distinctions 
gleamed  across  the  mind  of  Tom  Wychecombe  ;  but  that 
was  not  the  moment  to  pursue  the  investigation.  Courte 
sy  required  that  he  should  make  an  immediate  answer, 
which  he  succeeded  in  doing  steadily  enough  as  to  general 
appearances,  though  his  sagacious  and  practical  question 
er  perceived  that  his  words  had  not  failed  of  producing 
the  impression  he  intended  ;  for  he  had  looked  to  their 
establishing  a  species  of  authority  over  the  young  man. 

"My  honored  and  beloved  uncle  has  revived  a  little, 
they  tell  me,"  said  Tom  ;  "  but  I  fear  these  appearances 
are  delusive.  After  eighty-four,  death  has  a  fearful  hold 
upon  us,  sir  !  The  worst  of  it  is,  that  my  poor,  dear  uncle's 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  1-5 

mind  is  sensibly  affected  ;  and  it  is  quite  impossible  to  get 
at  any  of  his  little  wishes,  in  the  way  of  memorials  and 
messages — 

"  How  then,  sir,  came  Sir  Wycherly  to  honor  me  with  a 
request  to  visit  him  ? "  demanded  the  other,  with  an  ex 
tremely  awkward  pertinency. 

"  I  suppose,  sir,  he  has  succeeded  in  muttering  your 
name,  and  that  a  natural  construction  has  been  put  on  its 
use,  at  such  a  moment.  His  will  has  been  made  some 
time,  I  understand  :  though  I  am  ignorant  of  even  the 
name  of  the  executor,  as  it  is  closed  in  an  envelope,  and 
sealed  with  Sir  Wycherly's  arms.  It  cannot  be  then,  on 
account  &i  a  will,  that  he  has  wished  to  see  you.  I  rather 
think,  as  the  next  of  the  family,  out  of  the  direct  line  of 
succession,  he  may  have  ventured  to  name  you  as  his  ex 
ecutor  of  the  will  in  existence,  and  has  thought  it  proper  to 
notify  you  of  the  same." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  returned  Sir  Reginald,  in  his  usual  cold, 
wary  manner  ;  "though  it  would  have  been  more  in  con 
formity  with  usage,  had  the  notification  taken  the  form  of 
a  request  to  serve,  previously  to  making  the  testament. 
My  letter  was  signed  '  Gervaise  Oakes,'  and,  as  they  tell 
me  a  fleet  is  in  the  neighborhood,  I  have  supposed  that  the 
celebrated  Admiral  of  that  name  has  done  me  the  honor 
to  write  it." 

"  You  are  not  mistaken,  sir  ;  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  is  in  the 
house — ah — here  he  comes  to  receive  you,  accompanied 
by  Rear-admiral  Bluewater,  whom  the  sailors  call  his 
mainmast." 

The  foregoing  conversation  had  taken  place  in  a  little 
parlor  that  led  off  from  the  great  hall,  whither  Tom  had 
conducted  his  guest,  and  in  which  the  two  Admirals  now 
made  their  appearance.  Introductions  were  scarcely  nec 
essary,  the  uniform  and  star — for  in  that  age  officers  usu 
ally  appeared  in  their  robes — the  uniform  and  star  of  Sir 
Gervaise  at  once  proclaiming  his  rank  and  name  ;  while 
between  Sir  Reginald  and  Bluewater  there  existed  a  slight 
personal  acquaintance,  which  had  grown  out  of  their  covert, 
but  deep  Jacobite  sympathies. 

"  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,"  and  "  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe," 
passed  between  the  gentlemen,  with  a  hearty  shake  of  the 
hand  from  the  Admiral,  which  was  met  by  a  cold  touch  of 
the  fingers  on  the  part  of  the  other,  that  might  very  well 
have  passed  for  the  great  model  of  the  sophisticated  man- 


1 76  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

ipulation  of  the  modern  salute,  but  which,  in  fact,  was  the 
result  of  temperament  rather  than  of  fashion.  As  soon  as 
this  ceremony  was  gone  through,  and  a  few  brief  expres 
sions  of  courtesy  were  exchanged,  the  new  comer  turned  to 
Bluewater,  with  an  air  of  greater  freedom,  and  continued — 

"And  you,  too,  Sir  Richard  Bluewater!  I  rejoice  to 
meet  an  acquaintance  in  this  melancholy  scene." 

"  I  am  happy  to  see  you,  Sir  Reginald  ;  though  you  have 
conferred  on  me  a  title  to  which  I  have  no  proper  claim." 

"  No  !  the  papers  tell  us  you  have  received  one  of  the 
lately  vacant  red  ribbons?" 

"  I  believe  some  such  honor  has  been  in  contempla 
tion— 

"  Contemplation  !  I  do  assure  you,  sir,  your  name  is 
fairly  and  distinctly  gazetted — as,  by  sending  to  my  car 
riage,  it  will  be  in  my  power  to  show  you.  I  am,  then  the 
first  to  call  you  Sir  Richard." 

"  Excuse  me,  Sir  Reginald,  there  is  some  little  misap 
prehension  in  this  matter  ;  I  prefer  to  remain  plain  Rear- 
admiral  Bluewater.  In  due  season,  all  will  be  explained." 

The  parties  exchanged  looks,  which,  in  times  like  those 
in  which  they  lived,  were  sufficiently  intelligible  to  both  ; 
and  the  conversation  was  instantly  changed.  Before  Sir 
Reginald  released  the  hand  he  held,  however,  he  gave  it 
a  cordial  squeeze,  an  intimation  that  was  returned  by  a 
warm  pressure  from  Bluewater.  The  party  then  began 
to  converse  of  Sir  Wycherly,  his  actual  condition,  and  his 
probable  motive  in  desiring  to  see  his  distant  kinsman. 
This  motive  Sir  Gervaise,  regardless  of  the  presence  of 
Torn  Wychecombe,  declared  to  be  a  wish  to  make  a  will  ; 
and,  as  he  believed,  the  intention  of  naming  Sir  Reginald 
his  executor,  if  not  in  some  still  more  interesting  capacity. 

"  I  understand  Sir  Wycherly  lias  a  considerable  sum 
entirely  at  his  own  disposal,"  continued  the  Vice-admiral : 
"and  I  confess  I  like  to  see  a  man  remember  his  friends 
and  servants,  generously,  in  his  last  moments.  The  estate 
is  entailed,  I  hear  ;  and  I  suppose  Mr.  Thomas  Wyche 
combe  here,  will  be  none  the  worse  for  that  precaution  in 
his  ancestor,  let  the  old  gentleman  do  as  he  pleases  with 
his  savings." 

Sir  Gervaise  was  so  much  accustomed  to  command,  that 
he  did  not  feel  the  singularity  of  his  own  interference  in 
the  affairs  of  a  family  of  what  might  be  called  strangers, 
though  the  circumstance  struck  Sir  Reginald  as  a  little 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  177 

odd.  Nevertheless,  the  last  had  sufficient  penetration  to 
understand  the  Vice-admiral's  character  at  a  glance,  and 
the  peculiarity  made  no  lasting  impression.  When  the 
allusion  was  made  to  Tom's  succession,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  however,  he  cast  a  cold,  but  withering  look,  at  the 
reputed  heir,  which  almost  chilled  the  marrow  in  the  bones 
of  the  jealous  rogue. 

"  Might  I  say  a  word  to  you  in  your  own  room,  Sir  Ger-fc- 
vaise  ?  "  asked  Sir  Reginald,  in  an  aside.     **  These  matters 
ought  not  to  be  indecently  hurried ;   and  I  wish  to  under 
stand  the  ground  better,  before  I  advance." 

This  question  was  overheard  by  Bluewater ;  who,  beg 
ging  the  gentlemen  to  remain  where  they  were,  withdrew 
himself,  taking  Tom  Wychecombe  with  him.  As  soon  as 
they  were  alone,  Sir  Reginald  drew  from  his  companion, 
by  questions  warily  but  ingeniously  put,  a  history  of  all 
'that  had  occurred  within  the  last  twenty-four  hours:  a 
knowledge  of  the  really  helpless  state  of  Sir  Wycherly, 
and  of  the  manner  in  which  he  himself  had  been  sum 
moned,  included.  When  satisfied,  he  expressed  a  desire  to 
see  the  sick  man. 

"  By  the  way,  Sir  Reginald,"  said  the  Vice-admiral,  with 
his  hand  on  the  lock  of  the  door,  arresting  his  own  move 
ment  to  put  the  question  :  "  I  see  by  your  manner  of 
expressing  yourself,  that  the  law  has  not  been  entirely 
overlooked  in  your  education.  Do  you  happen  to  know 
what  *  half-blood '  means  ?  It  is  either  a  medical  or  a  legal 
term,  and  I  understand  few  but  nautical." 

"You  could  not  apply  to  any  man  in  England,  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,  better  qualified  to  tell  you,"  answered  the  Hertford 
shire  Baronet,  smiling  expressively  "  I  am  a  barrister  of 
the  Middle  Temple,  having  been  educated  as  a  younger 
son,  and  having  since  succeeded  an  elder  brother,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-seven  ;  I  stand  in  the  unfortunate  relation 
of  the  <  half-blood  '  myself,  to  this  very  estate,  on  which 
we  are  now  conversing." 

Sir  Reginald  then  proceeded  to  explain  the  law  to  the 
other,  as  we  have  already  pointed  out  to  the  reader  ;  per 
forming  the  duty  succinctly,  but  quite  clearly. 

"  Bless  me  ! — bless  me  !  Sir  Reginald,"  exclaimed  the 
direct-minded  and  just-minded  sailor,  "here  must  be  some 
mistake  !  A  fortieth  cousin,  or  the  king,  take  this  estate 
before  yourself,  though  you  are  directly  descended  from 
all  the  old  Wychecombes  of  the  times  of  the'Plantagenets  !  " 

12 


178  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"Such  is  the  common  law,  Sir  Gervnise.  Were  I  Sir 
Wycherly's  half-brother,  or  a  son  by  a  second  wife  of  our 
common  father,  I  could  not  take  from  him,  although  that 
common  father  had  earned  the  estate  by  Ins  own  hands,  or 
services." 

"This  is  damnable,  sir — damnable  ;  and  you'll  pardon 
me,  but  I  can  hardly  believe  we  have  such  a  monstrous 
principle  in  the  good,  honest,  well-meaning  laws  of  good, 
honest,  well-meaning  old  England  !  " 

Sir  Reginald  was  one  of  the  few  lawyers  of  his  time  who 
did  not  recognize  the  virtue  of  this  particular  provision  of 
the  common  law  ;  a  circumstance  that  probably  arose 
from  his  having  so  small  an  interest  now  in  the  mysteries 
of  the  profession,  and  so  large  an  interest  in  the  family 
estate  of  Wychecombe,  destroyed  by  its  dictum.  He  was 
consequently,  less  surprised,  and  not  at  all  hurt,  at  the  evi 
dent  manner  in  which  the  sailor  repudiated  his  statement, 
as  doing  violence  equally  to  reason,  justice,  and  probability. 

"Good,  honest,  well-meaning  old  England  tolerates 
many  grievous  things,  notwithstanding,  Sir  Gervaise,"  he 
answered  ;  "  among  others,  it  tolerates  the  law  of  the  half- 
blood.  Much  depends  on  the  manner  in  which  men  view 
these  things  ;  that  which  seems  gold  to  one,  resembling 
silver  in  the  eyes  of  another.  Now,  I  dare  say," — this  was 
said  as  a  feeler,  and  with  a  smile  that  might  pass  for  ironi 
cal  or  confiding,  as  the  listener  pleased  to  take  it — "now, 
I  dare  say,  the  clans  would  tell  us  that  England  tolerates 
an  usurper,  while  her  lawful  prince  was  in  banishment ; 
though  you  and  I  might  not  feel  disposed  to  allow  it." 

Sir  Gervaise  started,  and  cast  a  quick,  suspicious  glance 
at  the  speaker  ;  but  there  the  latter  stood,  with  as  open 
and  guileless  an  expression  on  his  handsome  features,  as 
was  ever  seen  in  the  countenance  of  confiding  sixteen. 

"Your  supposititious  case  is  no  parallel,"  returned  the 
Vice-admiral,  losing  every  shade  of  suspicion  at  this 
appearance  of  careless  frankness  ;  "since  men  often  follow 
their  feelings  in  their  allegiance,  while  the  law  is  supposed 
to  be  governed  by  reason  and  justice.  But,  now  we  are 
on  the  subject,  will  you  tell  me,  Sir  Reginald,  if  you  also 
know  what  a  nulhis  is  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  further  knowledge  of  the  subject,  Sir  Ger 
vaise,"  returned  the  other,  smiling,  this  time  quite  natur 
ally,  "  than  is  to  be  found  in  the  Latin  dictionaries  and 
grammars." 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  179 

"Aye,  you  mean  nullus,  null  a  ^  mtlliim.  Even  we  sailors 
know  that ;  as  we  all  go  to  school  before  we  go  to  sea. 
But,  Sir  Wycherly,  in  efforts  to  make  himself  understood, 
called  you  a  '  half-blood.'  " 

"  And  quite  correctly  ;  I  admit  such  to  be  the  fact ;  and 
that  I  have  no  more  legal  claim,  whatever,  on  this  estate, 
than  you  have  yourself.  My  moral  right,  however,  may 
be  somewhat  better." 

"  It  is  much  to  your  credit  that  you  so  frankly  admit  it, 
Sir  Reginald  ;  for,  hang  me,  if  I  think  even  the  judges 
would  dream  of  raising  such  an  objection  to  your  succeed 
ing,  unless  reminded  of  it." 

"Therein  you  do  them  injustice,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  as  it  is 
their  duty  to  administer  the  laws,  let  them  be  what  they 
may." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right,  sir.  But  the  reason  for  my 
asking  what  a  nullus  is,  was  the  circumstance  that  Sir 
Wycherly,  in  the  course  of  his  efforts  to  speak,  repeatedly 
called  his  nephew  and  heir,  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  by 
that  epithet." 

"  Did  he,  indeed  ?  Was  the  epithet,  as  you  well  term  it, 
fill  us  null  ins  ?  " 

"  I  rather  think  it  was  nullus — though  I  do  believe  the 
\vordfflius  was  muttered,  once  or  twice,  also." 

"  Yes,  sir,  this  has  been  the  case  ;  and  I  am  not  sorry 
Sir  Wycherly  is  aware  of  the  fact,  as  I  hear  that  the  young 
man  affects  to  consider  himself  in  a  different  point  of  view. 
A  films  nullius  is  the  legal  term  for  a  bastard — the  '  son  of 
nobody,'  as  you  will  at  once  understand.  I  am  fully  aware 
that  such  is  the  unfortunate  predicament  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Wychecombe,  whose  father,  I  possess  complete  evidence  to 
show,  was  never  married  to  his  mother." 

"And  yet,  Sir  Reginald,  the  impudent  rascal  carries  in 
his  pocket  even,  a  certificate,  signed  by  some  parish  priest 
in  London,  to  prove  the  contrary." 

The  civil  Baronet  seemed  surprised  at  this  assertion  of 
his  military  brother  ;  but  Sir  Gervaise  explaining  what  had 
passed  between  himself  and  the  young  man,  he  could  no 
longer  entertain  any  doubt  of  the  fact. 

"  Since  you  have  seen  the  document,"  resumed  Sir  Regi 
nald,  "  it  must,  indeed,  be  so  ;  and  this  misguided  boy  is 
prepared  to  take  any  desperate  step  in  order  to  obtain  the 
title  and  the  estate.  All  that  he  has  said  about  a  will  must 
be  fabulous,  as  no  man  in  his  senses  would  risk  his  neck 


i8o  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

to  obtain  so  hollow  a  distinction  as  a  baronetcy — we  are 
equally  members  of  the  class,  and  may  speak  frankly,  Sir 
Gervaise — and  the  will  would  secure  the  estate,  if  there 
were  one.  I  cannot  think,  therefore,  that  there  is  a  will 
at  all." 

"If  this  will  were  not  altogether  to  the  fellow's  liking, 
would  not  the  marriage,  beside  the  hollow  honor  of  which 
you  have  spoken,  put  the  whole  of  the  landed  property  in 
his  possession,  under  the  entail?" 

"  It  would,  indeed  ;  and  I  thank  you  for  the  suggestion. 
If,  however,  Sir  Wycherly  is  desirous,  now,  of  making  a 
new  will,  and  has  strength  and  mind  sufficient  to  execute 
his  purpose,  the  old  one  need  give  us  no  concern.  This 
is  a  most  delicate  affair  for  one  in  my  situation  to  engage 
in,  sir ;  and  I  greatly  rejoice  that  I  find  such  honorable 
and  distinguished  witnesses  in  the  house,  to  clear  my  repu 
tation,  should  anything  occur  to  require  such  exculpation. 
On  the  one  side,  Sir  Gervaise,  there  is  the  danger  of  an 
ancient  estate's  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  crown,  and 
this,  too,  while  one  of  no  stain  of  blood,  derived  from  the 
same  honorable  ancestors  as  the  last  possessor,  is  in  exist 
ence  ;  or,  on  the  other,  of  its  becoming  the  prey  of  one  of 
base  blood,  and  of  but  very  doubtful  character.  The  cir 
cumstance  that  Sir  Wycherly  desired  my  presence,  is  a 
great  deal  ;  and  I  trust  to  you,  and  to  those  with  you,  to 
vindicate  the  fairness  of  my  course.  If  it's  your  pleasure, 
sir,  we  will  now  go  to  the  sick  chamber." 

"  With  all  my  heart.  I  think,  however,  Sir  Reginald," 
said  the  Vice-admiral,  as  he  approached  the  door  ;  "that 
even  in  the  event  of  an  escheat,  you  would  find  these 
Brunswick  princes  sufficiently  liberal  to  restore  the  prop 
erty.  I  could  not  answer  for  those  wandering  Scotchmen, 
who  have  so  many  breechless  nobles  to  enrich  ;  but,  I  think, 
with  the  Hanoverians  you  would  be  safe." 

"  The  last  have  certainly  one  recommendation  the  most," 
returned  the  other,  smiling  courteously,  but  in  a  way  so 
equivocal  that  even  Sir  Gervaise  was  momentarily  struck 
by  it  ;  "  they  have  fed  so  well,  now,  at  the  crib,  that  they 
may  not  have  the  same  voracity,  as  those  who  have  been 
long  fasting.  It  would  be,  however,  more  pleasant  to  take 
these  lands  from  a  Wychecombe — a  Wychecombe  to  a 
Wychecombe — than  to  receive  them  anew  from  even  the 
Plantagenet  who  made  the  first  grant." 

This  terminated  the  private  dialogue,  as  the  colloquists 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  181 

entered  the  hall,  just  as  the  last  speaker  concluded.  Wych- 
erly  was  conversing,  earnestly,  with  Mrs.  Button  and 
Mildred,  at  the  far  end  of  the  hall,  when  the  Baronets  ap 
peared  ;  but,  catching  the  eye  of  the  Admiral,  he  said  a  few 
words  hastily  to  his  companions,  and  joined  the  two  gen 
tlemen,  who  wrere  now  on  their  way  to  the  sick  man's 
chamber. 

"  Here  is  a  namesake,  if  not  a  relative,  Sir  Reginald," 
observed  Sir  Gervaise,  introducing  the  Lieutenant  ;  "  and 
one,  I  rejoice  to  say,  of  whom  all  of  even  your  honorable 
name  have  reason  to  be  proud." 

Sir  Reginald's  bow  was  courteous  and  bland,  as  the 
Admiral  proceeded  to  complete  the  introduction  ;  but 
Wycherly  felt  that  the  keen,  searching  .look  he  bestowed 
on  himself,  wTas  disagreeable. 

"  I  am  not  at  all  aware  that  I  have  the  smallest  claim  to 
the  honor  of  being  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe's  relative," 
he  said,  with  cold  reserve.  "  Indeed,  until  last  evening,  I 
was  ignorant  of  the  existence  of  the  Hertfordshire  branch 
of  this  family  ;  and  you  will  remember,  Sir  Gervaise,  that 
I  am  a  Virginian." 

"  A  Virginian  ! "  exclaimed  his  namesake,  taken  so  much 
by  surprise  as  to  lose  a  little  of  his  self-command,  "I  did 
not  know,  indeed,  that  any  who  bear  the  name  had  found 
their  way  to  the  colonies." 

"  And  if  they  had,  sir,  they  would  have  met  with  a  set  of 
fellows  every  way  fit  to  be  their  associates,  Sir  Reginald. 
We  English  are  a  little  clannish — I  hate  the  word,  too  ;  it 
has  such  a  narrow,  Scotch  sound — but  we  are  clannish,  al 
though  generally  provided  with  garments  to  our  nether 
limbs  ;  and  we  sometimes  look  down  upon  even  a  son, 
whom  the  love  of  adventure  has  led  into  that  part  of  the 
world.  In  my  view  an  Englishman  is  an  Englishman,  let 
him  come  from  what  part  of  the  empire  he  may.  That  is 
what  I  call  genuine  liberality,  Sir  Reginald." 

"  Quite  true,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  and  a  Scotchman  is  a  Scotch 
man,  even  though  he  come  from  the  north  of  Tweed." 

This  was  quietly  said,  but  the  Vice- Admiral  felt  the  mer 
ited  rebuke  it  contained,  and  he  had  the  good-nature  and 
the  good  sense  to  laugh  at  it,  and  to  admit  his  own  preju 
dices.  This  little  encounter  brought  the  party  to  Sir 
Wycherly's  door,  where  all  three  remained  until  it  was  as 
certained  that  they  might  enter. 

The    next  quarter  of   an    hour  brought  about   a  great 


1 82  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

change  in  the  situation  of  all  the  principal  inmates  of 
Wychecombe  Hall.  The  interdict  was  taken  off  the  rooms 
of  Sir  Wycherly,  and  in  them  had  collected  all  the  gentle 
men,  Mrs.  Button  and  her  daughter,  with  three  or  four  of 
the  upper  servants  of  the  establishment.  Even  Galleygo 
contrived  to  thrust  his  ungainly  person  in,  among  the  rest, 
though  he  had  the  discretion  to  keep  in  the  background 
among  his  fellows.  In  a  word,  both  dressing-room  and 
bedroom  had  their  occupants,  though  the  last  was  princi 
pally  filled  by  the  medical  men,  and  those  whose  rank  gave 
them  claims  to  be  near  the  person  of  the  sick. 

It  was  now  past  a  question  known  that  poor  Sir  Wych 
erly  was  on  his  death-bed.  His  mind  had  sensibly  im 
proved,  nor  was  his  speech  any  worse  ;  but  his  physical 
system  generally  had  received  a  shock  that  rendered  re 
covery  hopeless.  It  was  the  opinion  of  the  physicians  that 
he  might  possibly  survive  several  days  ;  or,  that  he  might 
be  carried  off  in  a  moment,  by  a  return  of  the  paralytic 
affection. 

The  Baronet,  himself,  appeared  to  be  perfectly  conscious 
of  his  situation,  as  was  apparent  by  the  anxiety  he  ex 
pressed  to  get  his  friends  together,  and  more  especially  the 
concern  he  felt  to  make  a  due  disposition  of  his  worldly 
affairs.  The  medical  men  had  long  resisted  both  wishes, 
until,  convinced  that  the  question  was  reduced  to  one  of 
a  few  hours  more  or  less  of  life,  and  that  denial  was  likely 
to  produce  worse  effects  than  compliance,  they  finally  and 
unanimously  consented. 

"  It's  no  a  great  concession  to  mortal  infirmity  to  let  a  dy 
ing  man  have  his  way,"  whispered  Magrath  to  the  two  Ad 
mirals,  as  the  latter  entered  the  room.  "  Sir  Wycherly  is 
a  hopeless  case,  and  we'll  just  consent  to  let  him  make  a 
few  codicils,  seeing  that  he  so  fairvently  desires  it  ;  and 
then  there  may  be  fewer  hopeless  deevils  left  behind  him, 
when  he's  gathered  to  his  forefathers." 

"Here  we  are,  my  dear  Sir  Wycherly,"  said  the  Vice- 
admiral,  who  never  lost  an  occasion  to  effect  his  purpose, 
by  any  unnecessary  delay ;  "  here  we  all  are,  anxious  to 
comply  with  your  wishes.  Your  kinsman,  Sir  Reginald 
Wychecombe,  is  also  present,  and  desirous  of  doing  your 
pleasure." 

It  was  a  painful  sight  to  see  a  man  on  his  death-bed,  so 
anxious  to  discharge  the  forms  of  the  world,  as  the  master 
of  the  Hall  now  appeared  to  be.  There  had  been  an  un- 


THE    TU'O   ADMIRALS.  183 

necessary  alienation  between  the  heads  of  the  two  branches 
of  the  family  ;  not  arising  from  any  quarrel,  or  positive 
cause  of  disagreement,  but  from  a  silent  conviction  in  both 
parties,  that  each  was  unsuited  to  the  other.  They  had 
met  a  few  times,  and  always  parted  without  regret.  The 
case  was  now  different  ;  the  separation  was,  in  one  sense 
at  least,  to  be  eternal;  and  all  minor  considerations,  all 
caprices  of  habits  or  despotism  of  tastes,  faded  before  the 
solemn  impressions  of  the  moment.  Still,  Sir  Wycherly 
could  not  forget  that  he  was  master  of  Wychecombe,  and 
that  his  namesake  was  esteemed  a  man  of  refinement,  and 
in  his  simple  way  of  thinking,  he  would  fain  have  arisen, 
in  order  to  do  him  honor.  A  little  gentle  violence,  even, 
was  necessary  to  keep  the  patient  quiet. 

"  Much  honored,  sir — greatly  pleased,"  muttered  Sir 
Wycherly,  the  words  coming  from  him  with  difficulty. 
Same  ancestors — same  name — Plantagenets — old  house, 
sir — head  go,  new  one  come — none  better  than " 

"  Do  not  distress  yourself  to  speak,  unnecessarily,  my 
dear  sir,"  interrupted  Sir  Reginald,  with  more  tenderness 
for  the  patient  than  consideration  for  his  own  interest,  as 
the  next  words  promised  to  relate  to  the  succession.  "  Sir 
Gervaise  Oakes  tells  me  he  understands  your  wishes,  gen 
erally,  and  that  he  is  now  prepared  to  gratify  them.  First 
relieve  your  mind,  in  matters  of  business,  and  then  I  shall  be 
most  happy  to  exchange  with  you  the  feelings  of  kindred." 

"Yes,  Sir  Wycherly,"  put  in  Sir  Gervaise  on  this  hint  ; 
"  I  believe  I  have  now  found  the  clew  to  all  you  wish  to 
say.  The  few  words  written  by  you  last  night  were  the 
commencement  of  a  will,  which  it  is  your  desire  to  make. 
Do  not  speak,  but  raise  your  right  hand,  if  I  am  not  mis 
taken." 

The  sick  man  actually  stretched  his  right  arm  above  the 
bedclothes,  and  his  dull  eyes  lighted  with  an  expression  of 
pleasure,  that  proved  how  strongly  his  feelings  were  en 
listed  in  the  result. 

"  You  see,  gentlemen !"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  with  emphasis, 
"  No  one  can  mistake  the  meaning  of  this  !  Come  nearer, 
doctor — Mr.  Rotherham — all  who  have  no  probable  inter 
est  in  the  affair — I  wish  it  to  be  seen  that  Sir  Wycherly  is 
desirous  of  making  his  will." 

The  Vice-admiral  now  went  through  the  ceremony  of 
repeating  his  request,  and  got  the  same  significant  answer. 

"  So  I  understood  it,  Sir  Wycherly,  and  I  believe  now  I 


184  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

also  understand  all  about  the  'half/  and  the  'whole/  and 
the  '  nullus?  You  meant  to  tell  us  that  your  kinsman,  Sir 
Reginald  Wychecombe  was  the  '  half-blood '  as  respects 
yourself,  and  that  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  your  nephew, 
is  what  is  termed  in  law — however  painful  this  may  be, 
gentlemen,  at  such  solemn  moments  the  truth  must  be 
plainly  spoken — that  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe  is  what  the 
law  terms  a  '•filius  nullius.'  If  we  have  understood  you  in 
this,  also,  have  the  goodness  to  give  the  company  the  same 
sign  of  assent." 

The  last  words  were  scarcely  spoken,  before  Sir  Wych» 
erly  again  raised  his  arm  and  nodded  his  head. 

"  Here  there  can  be  no  mistake,  and  no  one  rejoices  in 
it  more  than  I  do  myself  ;  for  the  unintelligible  words  gave 
me  a  great  deal  of  vexation.  Well,  my  dear  sir,  under 
standing  your  wishes,  my  secretary,  Mr.  Atwood  has  drawn 
the  commencement  of  a  will,  in  the  usual  form,  using  your 
own  pious  and  proper  language  of — 'In  the  name  of  God, 
Amen/  as  the  commencement ;  and  he  stands  ready  to 
write  down  your  bequests,  as  you  may  see  fit  to  name  them. 
We  will  take  them,  first,  on  a  separate  piece  of  paper ; 
then  read  them  to  you,  for  your  approbation  ;  and,  after 
ward,  transcribe  them  into  the  will.  I  believe,  Sir  Regi 
nald,  that  mode  would  withstand  the  subtleties  of  all  the 
gentlemen  of  all  the  Inns  of  Court?" 

"  It  is  a  very  proper  and  prudent  mode  for  executing  a 
will,  sir,  under  the  peculiar  circumstances,"  returned  he  of 
Hertfordshire.  "  But,  Sir  Gervaise,  my  situation  here  is  a 
little  delicate,  as  may  be  that  of  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe 
— others  of  the  name  and  family,  if  such  there  be.  Would 
it  not  be  well  to  inquire  if  our  presence  is  actually  desired 
by  the  intended  testator  ?  " 

"  Is  it  your  wish,  Sir  Wycherly,  that  your  kinsmen  and 
namesakes  remain  in  the  room,  or  shall  they  retire  until 
the  will  is  executed  ?  I  will  call  over  the  names  of  the 
company,  and  when  you  wish  any  one  in  particular  to  stay 
in  the  room,  you  will  nod  your  head." 

"All — all  stay,"  muttered  Sir  Wycherly;  "  Sir  Reginald 
—Tom—  Wycherly— all— " 

"  This  seems  explicit  enough,  gentlemen/'  resumed  the 
Vice-admiral.  "  You  are  requested  to  stay  ;  and,  if  I 
might  venture  an  opinion,  our  poorfriend  has  named  those 
on  whom  he  intends  his  bequests  to  fall — and  pretty  much, 
too,  in  the  order  in  which  they  will  come." 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  185 

"  That  will  appear  more  unanswerably  when  SirWycherly 
has  expressed  his  intention  in  words,"  observed  Sir  Regi 
nald,  very  desirous  that  there  should  not  be  the  smallest 
appearance  of  dictation  or  persuasion  offered  to  his  kins 
man,  at  a  moment  so  grave.  "  Let  me  entreat  that  no 
leading  questions  be  put." 

"Sir  Gervaise  understands  leading  in  battle  much  bet 
ter  than  in  cross-examination,  Sir  Reginald,"  Bluewater 
observed,  in  a  tone  so  low,  that  none  heard  him  but  the 
person  to  whom  the  words  were  addressed.  "  I  think  we 
shall  sooner  get  at  Sir  Wycherly's  wishes  by  allowing  him 
to  take  his  own  course." 

The  other  bowed,  and  appeared  disposed  to  acquiesce. 
In  the  mean  time  preparations  were  making  for  a  con 
struction  of  the  will.  Atwood  seated  himself  at  a  table 
near  the  bed,  and  commenced  nibbing  his  pens  ;  the  medi 
cal  men  administered  a  cordial  ;  Sir  Gervaise  caused  all 
the  witnesses  to  range  themselves  around  the  room,  in  a 
way  that  each  might  fairly  see  and  be  seen  ;  taking  care, 
however,  so  to  dispose  of  Wycherly,  as  to  leave  no  doubt 
of  his  handsome  person's  coming  into  the  sick  man's  view. 
The  Lieutenant's  modesty  might  have  rebelled  at  this 
arrangement,  had  he  not  found  himself  immediately  at  the 
side  of  Mildred. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Yet  all  is  o'er  ! — fear,  doubt,  suspense,  are  fled, 

Let  brighter  thoughts  be  with  the  virtuous  dead  ! 

The  final  ordeal  of  the  soul  is  past, 

And  the  pale  brow  it  sealed  to  Heaven  at  last.  — MRS.  HEMANS. 

IT  will  be  easily  supposed  that  Tom  Wychecombe  wit 
nessed  the  proceedings  related  in  the  preceding  chapter 
with  dismay.  The  circumstance  that  he  actually  possessed 
a  bona  fide  will  of  his  uncle,  which  left  him  heir  of  all  the 
latter  owrned,  real  or  personal,  had  made  him  audacious, 
and  first  induced  him  to  take  the  bold  stand  of  asserting 
his  legitimacy,  and  of  claiming  all  its  consequences.  He 
had  fully  determined  to  assume  the  title  on  the  demise  of 
Sir  Wycherly  ;  plausibly  enough  supposing  that,  as  there 
was  no  heir  to  the  baronetcy,  the  lands  once  in  his  quiet 
possession,  no  one  would  take  sufficient  interest  in  the 
matter  to  dispute  his  right  to  the  rank.  Here,  however, 
was  a  blow  that  menaced  death  to  all  his  hopes.  His  ille- 


186  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

gitimacy  seemed  to  be  known  to  others,  and  there  was  every 
prospect  of  a  new  will's  supplanting  the  old  one,  in  its 
more  important  provisions,  at  least.  He  was  at  a  loss  to 
imagine  what  had  made  this  sudden  change  in  his  uncle's 
intentions  ;  for  he  did  not  sufficiently  understand  himself, 
to  perceive  that  the  few  months  of  close  communion  which 
had  succeeded  the  death  of  his  reputed  father,  had  sufficed 
to  enlighten  Sir  Wycherly  on  the  subject  of  his  own  true 
character,  and  to  awaken  a  disgust  that  had  remained  pas 
sive,  until  suddenly  aroused  by  the  necessity  of  acting  ; 
and  least  of  all  could  he  understand  how  surprisingly  the 
moral  vision  of  men  is  purified  and  enlarged,  as  respects 
both  the  past  and  the  future,  by  the  near  approach  of 
death.  Although  symptoms  of  strong  dissatisfaction  es 
caped  him,  he  quieted  his  feelings  as  much  as  possible, 
cautiously  waiting  for  any  occurrence  that  might  be  used 
in  setting  aside  the  contemplated  instrument,  hereafter  : 
or,  what  would  be  still  better,  to  defeat  its  execution,  now. 

As  soon  as  the  necessary  preparations  were  made,  At 
wood,  his  pen  nibbed,  ink  at  hand,  and  paper  spread,  was 
ready  to  proceed  ;  and  a  breathless  stillness  existing  in  the 
chamber,  Sir  Gervaise  resumed  the  subject  on  which  they 
were  convened. 

"  Atwood  will  read  to  you  what  he  has  already  written, 
Sir  Wycherly,"  he  said  ;  "  should  the  phraseology  be 
agreeable  to  you,  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  make  a 
sign  to  that  effect.  Well,  if  all  is  ready,  you  can  now 
commence — hey,  Atwood?" 

"  '  In  the  name  of  God,  Amen,'  "  commenced  the  me 
thodical  secretary  ;  "  '  I,  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  Bart.,  of 
Wychecombe  Hall,  in  the  county  of  Devon,  being  of  sound 
mind,  but  of  a  feeble  state  of  health,  and  having  the  view 
of  death  before  my  eyes,  revoking  all  other  wills,  codicils, 
or  testamentary  devises,  whatsoever,  do  make  and  declare 
this  instrument  to  be  my  said  will  and  testament  ;  that  is 
to  say,  Imprimis,  I  do  hereby  constitute  and  appoint — 

—  of ,  the  executor  of  this  my  said  will,  with  all  the 

powers  and  authority  that  the  law  gives,  or  may  hereafter 
give  to  said  executor.  Secondly,  I  give  and  bequeath  to 

— .'  This  is  all  that  is  yet  written,  Sir  Gervaise,  blanks 
being  left  for  the  name  or  names  of  the  executor  or  ex 
ecutors,  as  well  as  for  the  *  s '  at  the  end  of  'executor,' 
should  the  testator  see  fit  to  name  more  than  one." 

"  There,  Sir  Reginald,"  said  the  Vice-admiral,  not  alto- 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  187 

gather  without  exultation  :  "  this  is  the  way  we  prepare 
these  things  on  board  a  man-of-war !  A  flag-officer's  secre 
tary  needs  have  himself  qualified  to  do  anything,  short 
of  a  knowledge  of  administering  to  the  cure  of  souls !" 

"  And  the  cure  of  bodies,  ye'll  be  permitting  me  to  add, 
Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  Magrath,  taking  an  enormous 
pinch  of  a  strong  yellow  stuff. 

"  Our  secretary  would  make  but  a  lubberly  fist  at  turn 
ing  off  a  delicate  turtle-soup  out  of  pig's  head  ;  such  as  we 
puts  on  our  table  at  sea,  so  often,"  muttered  Galleygo  in 
the  ear  of  Mrs.  Larder. 

"  I  see  nothing  to  object  to  Sir  Gervaise,  if  the  language 
is  agreeable  to  Sir  Wycherly,"  answered  the  barrister  by 
profession,  though  not  by  practice.  "  It  would  be  advis 
able  to  get  his  approbation  of  even  the  language." 

"  That  we  intend  to  do,  of  course,  sir.  Sir  Wycherly 
do  you  find  the  terms  of  this  will  to  your  liking?" 

Sir  Wycherly  smiled,  and  very  clearly  gave  the  sign 
of  assent. 

"  I  thought  as  much — for  Atwood  has  made  the  wills  of 
two  Admirals,  and  of  three  captains,  to  my  knowledge  ; 
and  my  Lord  Chief  Justice  said  that  one  of  the  last  would 
have  done  credit  to  the  best  conveyancer  in  England,  and 
that  it  was  a  pity  the  testator  had  nothing  to  bequeath. 
Now,  Sir  Wycherly,  will  you  have  one  executor,  or  more  ? 
If  one,  hold  up  a  single  finger  ;  and  a  finger  for  each  ad 
ditional  executor  you  wish  us  to  insert  in  these  blanks. 
One,  Atwood — you  perceive,  gentlemen,  that  Sir  Wycherly 
raises  but  one  finger  ;  and  so  you  can  give  a  flourish  at 
the  end  of  the  '  r,'  as  the  word  will  be  in  the  singular— hey, 
Atwood  ? " 

The  secretary  did  as  directed,  and  then  reported  himself 
ready  to  proceed. 

"  It  will  be  necessary  for  you  now  to  name  your  execu 
tor,  Sir  Wycherly  ;  make  as  little  effort  as  possible,  as  we 
shall  understand  the  name  alone." 

Sir  Wycherly  succeeded  in  uttering  the  name  of  "Sir 
Reginald  Wychecombe,"  quite  audibly. 

k<  This  is  plain  enough,"  resumed  the  Vice-admiral  ; 
"  how  does  the  sentence  read  now,  Atwood  ?" 

u  '  Imprimis,  I  do  hereby  constitute  and  appoint  Sir 
Reginald  Wychecombe  of  Wychecombe-Regis,  in  the 
county  of  Herts,  Baronet,  the  executor  of  this  my  said 
will,  etc.  ' " 


i88  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  If  that  clause  is  to  your  liking,  Sir  Wycherly,  have  the 
goodness  to  give  the  sign  agreed  on." 

The  sick  man  smiled,  nodded  his  head,  raised  his  hand, 
and  looked  anxiously  at  his  kinsman. 

"  I  consent  to  serve,  Sir  Wycherly,  if  such  is  your  desire," 
observed  the  nominee,  who  detected  the  meaning  of  his 
kinsman's  look. 

"  And  now,  sir,"  continued  the  Vice-admiral;  "it  is 
necessary  to  ask  you  a  few  questions,  in  order  that  Atwood 
may  know  what  next  to  write.  Is  it  your  desire  to  be 
queath  any  real  estate?"  Sir  Wycherly  assented.  "Do 
you  wish  to  bequeath  all  your  real  estate  ? "  The  same 
sign  of  assent  was  given.  "  Do  you  wish  to  bequeath  all 
to  one  person  ? "  The  sign  of  assent  was  given  to  this  also. 
"  This  makes  plain  sailing,  and  a  short  run — hey,  Atwood  ?  " 

The  secretary  wrote  as  fast  as  possible,  and  in  two  or 
three  minutes  he  read  aloud,  as  follows  : 

"  '  Secondly,  1  make  and  declare  the  following  bequests 

or  devises:  that  isj:o  say,  I  give  and  bequeath  to  • 

of ,  all  the  real  estate  of  which  I  may  die  seized, 

together  with  all  the  houses,  tenements,  hereditaments, 
and  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging,  and  all  my  rights 
to  the  same,  whether  in  law  or  equity,  to  be  possessed  and 

enjoyed  by  the  said of in  fee,  by heirs, 

executors,  administrators,  or  assigns,  forever.'  There  are 
blanks  for  the  name  and  description,  as  well  as  for  the  sex 
of  the  devisee,"  added  the  secretary. 

"  All  very  proper  and  legal,  I  believe,  Sir  Reginald  ?  I 
am  glad  you  think  so,  sir.  Now,  Sir  Wycherly,  we  wait 
for  the  name  of  the  lucky  person  you  mean  thus  to  favor." 

"Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,"  the  sick  man  uttered, 
painfully  ;  "  half-blood — no  nullus.  Sir  Michael's  heir — 
my  heir." 

"  This  is  plain  English  ?  "  cried  Sir  Gervaise,  in  the  way 
of  a  man  who  is  not  displeased  ;  "  put  in  the  name  of  '  Sir 
Reginald  Wychecombe  of  Wychecombe  Regis,  Herts,'  At 
wood — aye — that  just  fills  the  blank  handsomely  ;  you 
want  '  his  heirs,  executors,  etc.,'  in  the  other  blank." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  it  should  read  'by 
himself,  his  heirs,  etc.'  " 

"  Very  true — very  true,  Atwood.  Now  read  it  slowly, 
and  Sir  Wycherly  will  assent,  if  he  approve." 

This  was  done,  and  Sir  Wycherly  not  'only  approved, 
but  it  was  apparent  to  all.  present,  the  abashed,  and  con- 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  189 

founded  Tom  himself  not  excepted,  that  he  approved, 
with  a  feeling  akin  to  delight. 

"  That  gives  a  black  eye  to  all  the  land — hey,  Atwood  ?  " 
said  Sir  Gervaise  ;  who,  by  this  time,  had  entered  into  the 
business  in  hand,  with  all  the  interest  of  a  regular  notary — 
or,  rather,  with  that  of  one  on  whose  shoulders  rested  the 
responsibility  of  success  or  failure.  "  We  come  next  to  the 
personals.  Do  you  wish  to  bequeath  your  furniture, wines, 
horses,  carriages,  and  other  things  of  that  sort,  to  any  par 
ticular  person,  Sir  Wycherly  ?" 

u  All— Sir  Reginald -Wychecombe— half  blood— old  Sir 
Michael's  heir,"  answered  the  testator. 

"  Good  !  clap  that  down,  Atwood,  for  it  is  doing  the 
thing  as  I  like  to  see  family  affairs  settled.  As  soon  as  you 
are  ready,  let  us  hear  how  it  sounds  in  writing." 

"  '  I  furthermore  bequeath  to  the  said  Sir  Reginald 
Wychecombe  of  Wychecombe-Regis,  as  aforesaid,  Baronet, 
all  my  personal  property,  whatsoever,' "  read  Atwood,  as 
soon  as  ready;  "'  including  furniture,  wines,  pictures, 
books,  horses  and  carriages,  and  all  other  goods  and  chattels 
of  which  I  may  die  possessed,  excepting  thereout  and 
therefrom,  nevertheless,  such  sums  in  money,  stocks, 
bonds,  notes,  or  other  securities  for  debts,  or  such  articles 
as  I  may  in  this  instrument  especially  devise  to  any  other 
person.'  We  can  now  go  to  especial  legacies,  Sir  Ger 
vaise,  and  then  another  clause  may  make  Sir  Reginald 
residuary  legatee,  if  such  be  Sir  Wycherly's  pleasure." 

"If  you  approve  of  that  clause,  my  dear  sir,  make  the 
usual  sign  of  assent." 

Sir  Wycherly  both  raised  his  hand  and  nodded  his  head, 
evidently  quite  satisfied. 

"  Now,  my  good  sir,  we  come  to  the  pounds — no — 
guineas  ?  You  like  that  better ;  well,  I  confess  that  it 
sounds  better  on  the  ear,  and  is  more  in  conformity  with 
the  habits  of  gentlemen.  Will  you  now  bequeath  guineas  ? 
Good  !  first  name  the  legatee — is  that  right,  Sir  Reginald  ?" 

"Quite  right,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  and  Sir  Wycherly  will  un 
derstand  that  he  now  names  the  first  person  to  whom  he 
wished  to  bequeath  anything  else." 

"  Milly,"  murmured  the  sick  man. 

"  What  ?  Mills  !— the  mills  go  with  the  land,  Sir  Regi 
nald?" 

"  He  means  Miss  Mildred  Button,"  eagerly  interposed 
Wycherly,  though  with  sufficient  modesty. 


IQO  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

"  Yes— right— right,"  added  the  testator.  "  Little  Milly 
— Milly  Dutton — good  little  Milly." 

Sir  Gervaise  hesitated,  and  looked  round  at  Bluewater, 
as  much  as  to  say,  "  This  is  bringing  coals  to  Newcastle ;" 
but  Atvvood  took  the  idea,  and  wrote  the  bequest  in  the 
usual  form. 

"'I  give  and  bequeath  to  Mildred  Button,'"  he  read 
aloud,  "  'daughter  of  Francis  Dutton,  of  the  Royal  Navy, 
the  sum  of —  -'  what  sum  shall  1  fill  the  blank  with,  Sir 
Wycherly  ? " 

"Three — three — yes,  three." 

"  Hundreds  or  thousands,  my  good  sir?"  asked  Sir 
Gervaise,  a  little  surprised  at  the  amount  of  the  bequest. 

"  Guineas — three— thousand — guineas — five  per  cents." 

"  That's  as  plain  as  logarithms.  Give  the  young  lady 
three  thousand  guineas  in  the  fives,  Atwood." 

"  '  I  give  and  bequeath  to  Mildred  Button,  daughter  of 
Francis  Button  of  the  Royal  Navy,  the  sum  of  three 
thousand  guineas  in  the  five  per  cent,  stocks  of  this  king 
dom.'  Will  that  do,  Sir  Wycherly  ? " 

The  old  man  looked  at  Mildred  and  smiled  benevolently  ; 
for,  at  that  moment,  he  felt  he  wras  placing  the  pure  and 
lovely  girl  above  the  ordinary  contingencies  of  her  situa 
tion,  by  rendering  her  independent. 

"Whose  name  shall  wre  next  insert,  Sir  Wycherly?" 
resumed  the  Vice-admiral.  ''There  must  be  many  more 
of  the  guineas  left." 

"Gregory — and — James — children  of  my  brother  Thomas 
— Baron  Wychecombe — five  thousand  guineas  each,"  added 
the  testator,  making  a  great  effort  to  express  his  meaning 
as  clearly  as  possible. 

He  \vas  understood  ;  and  after  a  short  consultation  with 
the  Vice-admiral,  Atwood  wrote  out  the  devise  at  length. 

"  *  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  nephews,  Gregory  and 
James  Wychecombe,  the  reputed  sons  of  my  late  brother, 
Thomas  Wychecombe,  one  of  the  Barons  of  his  Majesty's 
Exchequer,  the  sum  of  five  thousand  guineas,  each,  in  the 
five  per  cent,  funded  debt  of  this  kingdom.'" 

"  Bo  you  approve  of  the  devise,  Sir  Wycherly  ?  if  so, 
make  the  usual  sign  of  assent." 

Sir  Wycherly  complied,  as  in  all  the  previous  cases,  of 
his  approval. 

"  Whose  name  shall  we  next  insert,  in  readiness  for  a 
legacy,  Sir  Wycherly  ? "  asked  the  Admiral. 


THE    Tll'O   ADMIRALS.  191 

Here  was  a  long  pause,  the  Baronet  evidently  turning 
over  in  his  mind  what  he  had  done,  and  what  yet  remained 
to  do. 

"Spread  yourselves,  my  friends,  in  such  a  way  as  to 
permit  the  testator  to  see  you  all,"  continued  the  Vice- 
admiral,  motioning  with  his  hand  to  wriden  the  circle  around 
the  bed,  which  had  been  contracted  a  little  by  curiosity 
and  interest;  "stand  more  this  way,  Lieutenant  Wycherly 
Wychecombe,  that  the  ladies  may  see  and  be  seen  ;  and  you, 
too,  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  come  further  in  front, 
where  your  uncle  will  observe  you." 

This  speech  pretty  exactly  reflected  the  workings  of  the 
speaker's  mind.  The  idea  that  Wycherly  was  a  natural 
child  of  the  Baronet's,  notwithstanding  the  Virginian  story, 
was  uppermost  in  his  thoughts  ;  and  taking  the  supposed 
fact  in  connection  with  the  young  man's  merit,  he  earnestly 
desired  to  obtain  a  legacy  for  him.  As  for  Tom,  he  cared 
little  whether  his  name  appeared  in  the  will  or  not!  Justice 
was  now  substantially  done,  and  the  judge's  property  being 
sufficient  for  his  wants,  the  present  situation  of  the  lately 
reputed  heir  excited  but  little  sympathy.  Nevertheless, 
Sir  Gervaise  thought  it  would  be  generous,  under  the  cir 
cumstances,  to  remind  the  testator  that  such  a  being  as 
Tom  Wychecombe  existed. 

"  Here  is  your  nephew,  Mr.  Thomas,  Sir  Wycherly," 
he  said  ;  "  is  it  your  wish  to  let  his  name  appear  in  your 
will?" 

The  sick  man  smiled  coldly,  but  he  moved  his  head,  as 
much  as  to  imply  assent. 

" '  I  give  and  bequeath  to  Thomas  Wychecombe,  the 
eldest  reputed  son  of  my  late  brother,  Thomas,  one  of  the 
Barons  of  his  Majesty's  Exchequer,"  '  read  Atwood,  when 

1'ie  clause  was  duly  written,  "  *  the  sum  of ,  in  the 

five  per  cent,  stocks  of  this  kingdom."' 

"What  sum  will  you  have  inserted,  Sir  Wycherly?" 
asked  the  Vice-admiral. 

"  Fifty — fifty — pounds"  said  the  testator,  in  a  voice  clearer 
and  fuller  than  he  had  before  used  that  day. 

The  necessary  words  were  immediately  inserted  ;  the 
clause  as  completed,  was  read  again,  and  the  approval  was 
confirmed  by  a  distinctly  pronounced  "Yes."  Tom  started, 
but,  as  all  the  others  maintained  their  self-command,  the 
business  of  the  moment  did  not  the  less  proceed. 

"  Do  you   wish  any  more  names  introduced   into  your 


192  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

will,  Sir  Wycherly  ?  "  asked  the  Vice-admiral.  "  You  have 
bequeathed  but— a-a-a — how  much — hey,  Atwood  ? — aye, 
ten  and  three  are  thirteen,  and  fifty  pounds,  make  ^13,180  ; 
and  I  hear  you  have  ^20,000  funded,  besides  loose  cash, 
beyond  a  doubt. 

"Ann  Larder — Samuel  Cork  —  Richard  Bitts — David 
Brush — Phoebe  Keys,"  said  Sir  Wycherly,  slowly,  giving 
time  after  each  pause,  for  Atwood  to  write  ;  naming  his 
cook,  butler,  groom,  valet  or  body-servant,  and  house 
keeper,  in  the  order  they  have  been  laid  before  the  reader. 

"  How  much  to  each,  Sir  Wycherly  ?  I  see  Atwood  has 
made  short  work,  and  put  them  all  in  the  same  clause — 
that  will  never  do,  unless  the  legacies  are  the  same." 

"Good — good — right,"  muttered  the  testator;  "^£200 — 
each — j£i,ooo — all — money — money." 

This  settled  the  point,  and  the  clause  was  regularly 
written,  read,  and  approved. 

"  This  raises  the  money  bequests  to  ^14,180,  Sir  Wych 
erly — some  ^6,000  or  ^"7,000  more  must  remain  to  be  dis 
posed  of.  Stand  a  little  further  this  way,  if  you  please, 
Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  and  allow  the  ladies  more  room. 
Whose  name  shall  we  insert  next,  sir  ?" 

Sir  Wycherly,  thus  directed  by  the  eager  desire  of  the 
Admiral  to  serve  the  gallant  Lieutenant,  fastened  his  eyes 
on  the  young  man,  regarding  him  quite  a  minute  in  silent 
attention. 

"  Virginian  —  same  name — American—  colonies — good 
lad — brave  lad — ^£1,000,"  muttered  the  sick  man  between 
his  teeth  ;  and  yet  so  breathless  was  the  quiet  of  the  cham 
ber,  at  that  moment,  every  syllable  was  heard  by  all  pres 
ent.  "Yes  —  ^1,000  —  Wycherly  Wychecombe  —  royal 
navy — " 

Atwood's  pen  was  running  rapidly  over  the  paper,  and 
had  just  reached  the  name  of  the  contemplated  legatee, 
when  his  hand  was  arrested  by  the  voice  of  the  young  man 
himself. 

"  Stop,  Mr.  Atwood — do  not  insert  any  clause  in  my  fa 
vor  !"  cried  Wycherly,  his  face  the  color  of  crimson,  and 
his  chest  heaving  with  the  emotions  he  felt  so  difficult  to 
repress.  "  I  decline  the  legacy — it  will  be  useless  to  write 
it,  as  I  will  not  receive  a  shilling." 

"Young  sir,"  said  Gervaise,  with  a  little  of  the  severity 
of  a  superior,  when  he  rebukes  an  inferior,  in  his  manner ; 
"you  speak  hastily.  It  is  not  the  office  of  an  auditor  or 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  193 

of  a  spectator,  to  repel  the  kindness  of  a  man  about  to 
pass  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  into  the  more  immediate 
presence  of  his  God  !  " 

"  I  have  every  sentiment  of  respect  for  Sir  Wycherly 
Wychecombe,  sir,  every  friendly  wish  for  his  speedy  re 
covery,  and  a  long  evening  to  his  life  ;  but  I  will  accept  of 
the  money  of  no  man  who  holds  my  country  in  such  obvi 
ous  distaste,  as  it  is  apparent,  the  testator  holds  mine." 

"  You  are  an  Englishman,  I  believe,  Lieutenant  Wyche 
combe  ;  and  a  servant  of  King  George  II.  ?" 

"  I  am  not  an  Englishman,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes — but  an 
American,  a  Virginian,  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  privi 
leges  of  a  British  subject.  I  am  no  more  an  Englishman, 
than  Dr.  Magrath  may  lay  claim  to  the  same  character." 

"This  is  putting  the  case  strongly— hey,  Atwood ?  " 
answered  the  Vice-admiral,  smiling  in  spite  of  the  occa 
sion.  "I  am  far  from  saying  that  you  are  an  Englishman, 
in  all  senses,  sir  ;  but  you  are  one  in  the  sense  that  gives 
you  national  character  and  national  rights.  You  are  a 
subject  of  England." 

"  No,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  your  pardon.  I  am  the  subject  of 
George  II.,  but  in  no  manner  a  subject  of  England.  I  am, 
in  one  sense,  perhaps,  a  subject  of  the  British  empire  ;  but 
I  am  not  the  less  a  Virginian,  and  an  American.  Not  a 
shilling  of  any  man's  money  will  I  ever  touch,  who  ex 
presses  his  contempt  for  either." 

"You  forget  yourself,  young  man,  and  overlook  the 
future,  The  hundred  or  two  of  prize-money,  bought  at 
the  expense  of  your  blood,  in  the  late  affair  at  Croix,  will 
not  last  forever." 

"  It  is  gone,  already,  sir,  every  shilling  of  it  having  been 
sent  to  the  widow  of  the  boatswain  who  was  killed  at  my 
side.  I  am  no  beggar,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  though  only 
an  American.  I  am  the  owner  of  a  plantation,  which  af 
fords  me  a  respectable  independence  already  ;  and  I  do 
not  serve  from  necessity,  but  from  choice.  Perhaps,  if  Sir 
Wycherly  knew  this,  he  would  consent  to  omit  my  name. 
I  honor  and  respect  him  ;  would  gladly  relieve  his  distress, 
either  of  body  or  mind ;  but  I  cannot  consent  to  accept 
his  money  when  offered  on  terms  I  consider  humiliating." 

This  was  said  modestly,  but  with  a  warmth  and  sinceri 
ty  which  left  no  doubt  that  the  speaker  was  in  earnest. 
Sir  Gervaise  too  much  respected  the  feelings  of  the  young 
man  to  urge  the  matter  any  further,  and  he  turned  toward 

13 


194  THE    TITO  ADMIRALS. 

the  bed,  in  expectation  of  what  the  sick  man  might  next 
say.  Sir  Wycherly  heard  and  understood  all  that  passed, 
and  it  did  not  fail  to  produce  an  impression,  even  in  the 
state  to  which  he  was  reduced.  Kind-hearted,  and  indis 
posed  to  injure  even  a  fly,  all  the  natural  feelings  of  the 
old  man  resumed  their  ascendancy,  and  he  would  gladly 
have  given  every  shilling  of  his  funded  property  to  be  able 
freely  to  express  his  compunction  at  having  uttered  a  syl 
lable  that  could  offend  sensibilities  so  noble  and  generous. 
But  this  exceeded  his  powers,  and  he  was  fain  to  do  the 
best  he  could  in  the  painful  situation  in  which  he  was 
placed. 

"Noble  fellow !"  he  stuttered  out;  "honor  to  name — 
come  here — Sir  Gervaise — bring  here — " 

"  I  believe  it  is  the  wish  of  Sir  Wycherly,  that  you  would 
draw  near  the  bed,  Mr.  Wychecombe  of  Virginia"  said  the 
Vice-admiral  pithily,  though  he  extended  a  hand  to,  and 
smiled  kindly  on,  the  youth  as  the  latter  passed  him  in 
compliance. 

The  sick  man  now  succeeded,  with  a  good  deal  of  diffi 
culty,  in  drawing  a  valuable  signet-ring  from  a  finger. 
This  ring  bore  the  Wychecombe  arms,  engraved  on  it.  It 
was  without  the  bloody  hand,  however  ;  for  it  was  far  older 
than  the  order  of  baronets,  having,  as  Wycherly  well  knew, 
been  given  by  one  of  the  Plantagenet  dukes  to  an  ancestor 
of  the  family,  during  the  French  wars  of  Henry  VI.,  and 
that,  too,  in  commemoration  of  gallantry  in  the  field. 

"  Wear  this — noble  fellow — honor  to  name,"  said  Sir 
Wycherly."  "  Must  be  descended — all  Wychecombe's  de 
scended —  him " 

"  I  thank  you  Sir  Wycherly,  for  this  present,  which  I 
prize  as  it  ought  to  be  prized,"  said  Wycherly,  every  trace 
of  any  other  feeling  than  that  of  gratitude  having  vanished 
from  his  countenance.  "  I  may  have  no  claims  to  your 
honors  or  money  ;  but  this  ring  I  need  not  be  ashamed  to 
wear,  since  it  was  bestowed  on  one  who  was  as  much  my 
ancestor,  as  he  was  the  ancestor  of  any  Wychecombe  in 
England." 

"  Legitimate  ?"  cried  Tom,  a  fierce  feeling  of  resentment 
upsetting  his  caution  and  cunning. 

"  Yes,  sir,  legitimate,"  answered  Wycherly,  turning  to  his 
interrogator  with  the  calmness  of  one  conscious  of  his  own 
truth,  and  with  a  glance  of  the  eye  that  caused  Tom  to 
shrink  back  again  into  the  circle.  "  I  need  no  bar  to  en- 


THE  TWO  ASUIIRALS.  195 


able  me  to  use  this  seal,  which,  you  may  perceive,  Sir 
Gervaise  Oakes,  is  ^.fac-similc  of  the  one- 1  ordinarily  wear, 
and  which  was  transmitted  to  me  from  my  direct  ances 
tors." 

The  Vice-admiral  compared  the  seal  on  Wycherly's 
watch-chain  with  that  on  the  ring,  and,  the  bearings  being 
principally  griffins,  he  was  enabled  to  see  that  one  was  the 
exact  counterpart  of  the  other.  Sir  Reginald  advanced  a 
step,  and  \vhen  the  Admiral  had  satisfied  himself,  he  also 
took  the  two  seals  and  compared  them.  As  all  the  known 
branches  of  the  Wychecombes  of  Wychecombe  bore  the 
same  arms,  namely,  griffins  for  Wychecombe,  with  three 
battering-rams  quartered,  for  Wycherly — he  saw,  at  once, 
that  the  young  man  habitually  carried  about  his  person 
this  proof  of  a  common  origin.  Sir  Reginald  knew  very 
well  that  arms  were  often  assumed,  as  well  as  names,  and 
the  greater  the  obscurity  of  the  individual  who  took  these 
liberties,  the  greater  was  his  impunity  ;  but  the  seal  was  a 
very  ancient  one,  and  innovations  on  personal  rights  were 
far  less  frequent  a  century  since,  than  they  are  to-day. 
Then  the  character  and  appearance  of  Wycherly  put  fraud 
out  of  the  question,  so  far  as  the  young  Lieutenant  himself 
was  concerned.  Although  the  elder  branch  of  the  family, 
legitimately  speaking,  was  reduced  to  the  helpless  old  man 
who  wras  now  stretched  upon  his  death-bed,  his  own  had 
been  extensive  ;  and  it  might  be  that  some  cadet  of  the 
Wychecombes  of  Wychecombe-Regis  had  strayed  into  the 
colonies  and  left  descendants.  Secretly  resolving  to  look 
more  closely  into  these  facts,  he  gravely  returned  the 
seals,  and  intimated  to  Sir  Gervaise  that  the  more  impor 
tant  business  before  them  had  better  proceed.  On  this 
hint,  Atwood  resumed  the  pen,  and  the  Vice-admiral  his 
duties. 

"  There  want  yet  some  ^£6,000  or  ^7,000  to  make  up 
^20,000,  Sir  Wycherly,  which  I  understand  is  the  sum  you 
have  in  funds.  Whose  name  or  names  will  you  have  next 
inserted  ?  " 

"  Rotherham — Vicar — poor  St.  James — gone  ;  yes — Mr. 
— Rotherham — Vicar." 

The  clause  was  written,  the  sum  of  ^£1,000  w^as  inserted 
and  the  whole  was  read  and  approved. 

"  This  still  leaves  us  some  ^"5,000  more  to  deal  with,  my 
dear  sir." 

A  long  pause  succeeded,  during  which  time  Sir  Wych- 


196  THE   TWO   ADMIRALS. 

erly  was  deliberating  what  to  do  with  the  rest  of  his 
ready  money.  At  length  his  wandering  eye  rested  on  the 
pale  features  of  Mrs.  Button,  and,  while  he  had  a  sort  of 
liking,  that  proceeded  from  habit,  for  her  husband,  he  re 
membered  that  she  had  many  causes  of  sorrow.  With  a 
feeling  that  was  creditable  to  his  own  heart,  he  uttered  her 
name  and  the  sum  of  ^2,000.  The  clause  was  written, 
and  accordingly  read  and  approved. 

"We  have  still  ,£3,000  certainly,  if  not  ,£4,000,"  added 
Sir  Gervaise. 

"Milly — dear  little  Milly— pretty  Milly,"  stammered  out 
the  Baronet,  affectionately. . 

"  This  must  go  into  a  codicil,  Sir  Gervaise,"  interrupted 
Atwood  ;  "there  being  already  one  legacy  in  the  young 
lady's  favor.  Shall  it  be  one,  two,  three  or  four  thousand 
pounds,  Sir  Wycherly,  in  favor  of  Miss  Mildred,  to  whom 
you  have  already  bequeathed  ^"3,000." 

The  sick  man  muttered  the  words,  "three  thousand," 
after  a  short  pause,  adding  "codicil." 

His  wishes  were  complied  with,  and  the  whole  was  read 
and  approved.  After  this,  Sir  Gervaise  inquired  if  the 
testator  wished  to  make  any  more  devises.  Sir  Wycherly, 
who  had  in  effect  bequeathed,  within  a  few  hundred 
pounds,  all  he  had  to  bestow,  bethought  himself,  for  a  few 
moments,  of  the  state  of  his  affairs,  and  then  he  signified 
his  satisfaction  with  what  had  been  done. 

"As  it  is  possible,  Sir  Wycherly,  that  you  may  have 
overlooked  something,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  "and  it  is  better 
that  nothing  should  escheat  to  the  crown,  I  will  suggest 
the  expediency  of  your  making  some  one  residuary  legatee." 

The  poor  old  man  smiled  an  assent,  and  then  he  succeeded 
in  muttering  the  name  of  "Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe." 

This  clause,  like  all  the  others,  was  written,  read,  and 
approved.  The  will  was  now  completed,  and  preparations 
were  made  to  read  it  carefully  over  to  the  intended 
testator.  In  order  that  this  might  be  done  with  sufficient 
care  for  future  objections,  the  twro  Admirals  and  Atwood, 
who  were  selected  for  the  witnesses,  each  read  the  testa 
ment  himself,  in  order  to  say  that  nothing  was  laid  before 
the  testator  but  that  which  was  fairly  contained  in  the  in 
strument,  and  that  nothing  was  omitted.  When  all  was 
ready,  the  will  was  audibly  and  slowTly  read  to  Sir  Wycherly, 
by  the  secretary,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end.  The  old 
man  listened  with  great  attention;  smiled  when  Mildred's 


THE    TIVO   ADMIRALS.  197 

name  was  mentioned  ;  and  clearly  expressed,  by  signs  and 
words,  his  entire  satisfaction  when  all  was  ended.  It  re 
mained  only  to  place  a  pen  in  his  hand,  and  give  him  such 
assistance  as  would  enable  him  to  affix  his  name  twice: 
once  to  the  body  of  the  instrument  ;  and,  when  this  was 
duly  witnessed,  then  again  to  the  codicil.  By  this  time, 
Tom  Wychecombe  thought  that  the  moment  for  interpos 
ing  had  arrived.  He  had  been  on  thorns  during  the  whole 
proceeding,  forming  desperate  resolutions  to  sustain  the 
bold  fraud  of  his  legitimacy,  and  thus  take  all  the  lands 
and  heirlooms  of  the  estate,  under  entail ;  still  he  well 
knew  that  a  subordinate  but  important  question  might 
arise,  as  between  the  validity  of  the  two  wills,  in  connec 
tion  with  Sir  Wycherly's  competency  to  make  the  last.  It 
was  material,  therefore,  in  his  view  of  the  case,  to  enter  a 
protest. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said,  advancing  to  the  foot  of  the  bed; 
"  I  call  on  you  all  to  observe  the  nature  of  this  whole 
transaction.  My  poor,  beloved,  but  misled  uncle,  no  longer 
ago  than  last  night,  was  struck  with  a  fit  of  apoplexy,  or 
something  so  very  near  it  as  to  disqualify  him  to  judge  in 
these  matters  ;  and  here  he  is  urged  to  make  a  will " 

"By  whom,  sir  ?"  demanded  Sir  Gervaise,  with  a  severity 
of  tone  that  induced  the  speaker  to  fall  back  a  step. 

"  Why,  sir,  in  my  judgment,  by  all  in  the  room.  If  not 
with  their  tongues,  at  least  with  their  eyes." 

"  And  why  should  all  in  the  room  do  this  ?  Am  I  a  leg 
atee  ?  is  Admiral  Bluewater  to  be  a  gainer  by  this  will  ? 
can  witnesses  to  a  will  be  legatees  ? " 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  dispute  the  matter  with  you,  Sir  Ger 
vaise  Oakes  ;  but  I  solemnly  protest  against  this  irregular 
and  most  extraordinary  manner  of  making  a  will.  Let  all 
who  hear  me  remember  this,  and  be  ready  to  testify  to  it 
when  called  on  in  a  court  of  justice." 

Here  Sir  Wycherly  struggled  to  rise  in  the  bed,  in  evident 
excitement,  gesticulating  strongly  to  express  his  disgust, 
and  his  wish  for  his  nephew  to  withdraw.  But  the  phy 
sician  endeavored  to  pacify  him,  while  Atwood,  with  the 
paper  spread  on  a  portfolio,  and  a  pen  in  readiness,  coolly 
proceeded  to  obtain  the  necessary  signatures. 

Sir  Wycherly's  hand  trembled  so  much  when  it  received 
the  pen,  that  for  the  moment  writing  was  out  of  the  ques 
tion,  and  it  became  necessary  to  administer  a  restorative 
in  order  to  strengthen  his  nerves. 


198  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  Away — out  of  sight,"  muttered  the  excited  Baronet, 
leaving  no  doubt  on  all  present,  that  the  uppermost  feel 
ing  of  the  moment  was  the  strong  desire  to  rid  himself  of 
the  presence  of  the  offensive  object.  "  Sir  Reginald — lit 
tle  Milly — poor  servants — brothers — all  the  rest,  stay." 

"  Just  be  calming  the  mind,  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe," 
put  in  Magrath,  "  and  ye'll  be  solacing  the  body  by  the 
same  effort.  When  the  mind  is  in  a  state  of  exaltation,  the 
nervous  system  is  apt  to  feel  the  influence  of  sympathy. 
By  bringing  the  two  in  harmonious  co-operation,  the  tes 
tamentary  devises  will  have  none  the  less  validity,  either  in 
reality  or  in  appearances." 

Sir  Wycherly  understood  the  surgeon,  and  he  struggled 
for  self-command.  He  raised  the  pen  and  succeeded  in 
getting  its  point  on  the  proper  place.  Then  his  dim  eye 
lighted,  and  shot  a  reproachful  glance  at  Tom  ;  he  smiled 
in  a  ghastly  manner,  looked  toward  the  paper,  passed  a 
hand  across  his  brow,  closed  his  eyes,  and  fell  back  on  the 
pillow,  utterly  unconscious  of  all  that  belonged  to  life,  its 
interests,  its  duties,  or  its  feelings.  In  ten  minutes  he  ceased 
to  breathe. 

Thus  died  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  after  a  long  life, 
in  which  general  qualities  of  a  very  negative  nature  had 
been  somewhat  relieved  by  kindness  of  feeling,  a  passive 
if  not  an  active  benevolence,  and  such  a  discharge  of  his 
responsible  duties  as  is  apt  to  flow  from  an  absence  of  any 
qualities  that  are  positively  bad,  as  well  as  of  many  of  ma 
terial  account,  that  are  affirmatively  good. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Come  ye,  who  still  the  cumbrous  load  of  life 
Push  hard  up  hill ;  but  at  the  farthest  steep 

You  trust  to  gain,  and  put  an  end  to  strife, 

Down  thunders  back  the  stone  with  mighty  sweep, 
And  hurls  your  labors  to  the  valley  deep. — THOMSON. 

THE  sudden,  and,  in  some  measure,  unlooked-for  event, 
related  in  the  close  of  the  last  chapter,  produced  a  great 
change  in  the  condition  of  things  at  Wychecombe  Hall. 
The  first  step  was  to  make  sure  that  the  Baronet  was  ac 
tually  dead  ;  a  fact  that  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  in  particular, 
was  very  unwilling  to  believe,  in  the  actual  state  of  his 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  199 

feelings.  Men  often  fainted,  and  apoplexy  required  three 
blows  to  kill  ;  the  sick  man  might  still  revive,  and  at  least 
be  able  to  execute  his  so  clearly  expressed  intentions. 

"  Ye'll  never  have  act  of  any  sort,  testamentary  or  mat 
rimonial,  legal  or  illegal,  in  this  life,  from  the  late  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe,  of  Wychecombe  Hall,  Devon 
shire,"  coolly  observed  Magrath,  as  he  collected  the 
different  medicines  and  instruments  he  had  himself 
brought  forth  for  the  occasion.  "  He's  far  beyond  the 
jurisdiction  of  my  Lord  High  Chancellor  of  the  college 
of  physicians  and  surgeons  ;  and  therefore,  ye'll  be  acting 
prudently  to  consider  him  as  deceased  ;  or,  in  the  light  in 
which  the  human  body  is  placed  by  the  cessation  of  all  the 
animal  functions." 

This  decided  the  matter,  and  the  necessary  orders  were 
given  ;  all  but  the  proper  attendants  quitting  the  chamber 
of  death.  It  would  be  far  from  true  to  say  that  no  one 
lamented  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe.  Both  Mrs.  Button 
and  Mildred  grieved  for  his  sudden  end,  and  wept  sin 
cerely  for  his  loss  ;  though  totally  without  a  thought  of 
its  consequences  to  themselves. 

The  daughter  did  not  even  once  think  how  near  she  had 
been  to  the  possession  of  ^6,000,  and  how  unfortunately 
the  cup  of  comparative  affluence  had  been  dashed  from 
her  lips  ;  though  truth  compels  us  to  avow  that  the 
mother  did  once  recall  this  circumstance,  with  a  feeling 
akin  to  regret.  A  similar  recollection  had  its  influence  on 
the  manifestations  of  sorrow  that  flowed  from  others.  The 
domestics,  in  particular,  were  too  much  astounded  to  in 
dulge  in  any  very  abstracted  grief,  and  Sir  Gervaise  and 
Atwood  were  both  extremely  vexed.  In  short,  the  feel 
ings  usual  to  such  occasions  were  but  little  indulged  in, 
though  there  was  a  strict  observance  of  decorum. 

Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  noted  these  circumstances 
attentively,  and  he  took  his  measures  accordingly.  Seiz 
ing  a  favorable  moment  to  consult  with  the  two  Admirals, 
his  decision  was  soon  made  ;  and,  within  an  hour  after  his 
kinsman's  death,  all  the  guests  and  most  of  the  upper  ser 
vants  were  assembled  in  the  room  which  it  was  the  usage 
of  the  house  to  call  the  library ;  though  the  books  were 
few,  and  seldom  read.  Previously,  there  had  been  a  con 
sultation  between  Sir  Reginald  and  the  two  Admirals,  to 
which  Atwood  had  been  admitted,  ex  officio.  As  every 
thing,  therefore,  had  been  arranged  in  advance,  there  was 


200  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

no  time  lost  unnecessarily,  when  the  company  was  col 
lected  ;  the  Hertfordshire  Baronet  coming  to  the  point  at 
once  and  that  in  the  clearest  manner. 

"Gentlemen,  and  you,  good  people,  domestics  of  the 
late  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,"  he  commenced;  "you 
are  all  acquainted  with  the  unfortunate  state  of  this  house 
hold.  By  the  recent  death  of  its  master,  it  is  left  without 
a  head  ;  and  the  deceased  departing  this  life  a  bachelor, 
there  is  no  child  to  assume  his  place,  as  the  natural  and 
legal  successor.  In  one  sense,  I  might  be  deemed  the 
next  to  kin  ;  though,  by  a  dictum  of  the  common  law  I 
have  no  claim  to  the  succession.  Nevertheless,  you  all 
know  it  was  the  intention  of  our  late  friend  to  constitute 
me  his  executor,  and  I  conceive  it  proper  that  search  be 
made  for  a  will,  which,  by  being  duly  executed,  must  dis 
pose  of  all  in  this  house,  and  let  us  know  who  is  entitled 
to  command  at  this  solemn  and  important  moment.  It 
strikes  me,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  that  the  circumstances  are 
so  peculiar  as  to  call  for  prompt  proceedings." 

"I  fully  agree  \vith  you,  Sir  Reginald,"  returned  the 
Vice-admiral;  "but  before  we  proceed  any  farther,  I 
would  suggest  the  propriety  of  having  as  many  of  those 
present  as  possible,  who  have  an  interest  in  the  result.  Mr. 
Thomas  Wychecombe,  the  reputed  nephew  of  the  de 
ceased,  I  do  not  see  among  us." 

On  examination,  this  was  found  to  be  true,  and  the  man 
of  Tom  Wychecombe,  who  had  been  ordered  by  his  master 
to  be  present  as  a  spy,  was  immediately  sent  to  the  latter, 
with  a  request  that  he  would  attend.  After  a  delay  of 
two  or  three  minutes,  the  fellow  returned  with  the  answer. 

"  Sir  Thomas  Wychecombe's  compliments,  gentlemen," 
he  said,  "and  he  desires  to  know  the  object  of  your  re 
quest.  He  is  in  his  room,  indulging  in  natural  grief  for 
his  recent  loss  ;  and  he  prefers  to  be  left  alone  with  his 
sorrows,  just  at  this  moment,  if  it  be  agreeable  to  you." 

fljis  was  taking  high  ground  in  the  commencement ;  and, 
as  the  n>an  had  his  cue,  and  delivered  his  message  with  great 
distinctness  and  steadiness,  the  effect  on  the  dependents 
of  the  household  was  very  evident.  Sir  Reginald's  face 
flushed,  while  Sir  Gervaise  bit  his  lip  ;  Bluewater  played 
with  the  hilt  of  his  sword,  very  indifferent  to  all  that  was 
passing  ;  while  Atwood  and  the  surgeon  shrugged  their 
shoulders  and  smiled.  The  first  of  tljese  persons  well 
knew  that  Tom  had  no  shadow  of  a  clajin  to.  the  title 


THE  TWO  ADMIRALS.  201 

he  had  been  in  so  much  haste  to  assume,  however,  and  he 
hoped  that  the  feebleness  of  his  rights  in  all  particulars, 
was  represented  by  the  mixed  feebleness  and  impudence 
connected  writh  this  message.  Determined  not  to  be 
bullied  from  his  present  purpose,  therefore,  he  turned  to 
the  servant  and  sent  him  back  with  a  second  message,  that 
did  not  fail  of  its  object.  The  man  was  directed  to  in 
form  his  master,  that  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  was  in 
possession  of  facts  that,  in  his  opinion,  justified  the 
course  he  was  taking,  and  if  "  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe  " 
did  not  choose  to  appear,  in  order  to  look  after  his  o\vn 
interests,  he  should  proceed  without  him. 

This  brought  Tom  into  the  room,  his  face  pale  with  un 
certainty  rather  than  grief,  and  his  mind  agitated  with 
such  apprehensions  as  are  apt  to  beset  even  the  most 
wicked,  when  they  take  their  first  important  step  in  evil. 
He  bowed,  however,  to  the  company  with  an  air  that  he 
intended  to  represent  the  manner  of  a  well-bred  man 
acknowledging  his  duties  to  respected  guests. 

"  If  I  appear  remiss  in  any  of  the  duties  of  a  host,  gentle 
men,"  he  said,  "you  will  overlook  it,  I  trust,  in  considera 
tion  of  my  present  feelings.  Sir  Wycherly  was  my  father's 
elder  brother,  and  was  very  dear,  as  he  was  very  near  to 
me.  By  this  melancholy  death,  Sir  Reginald,  I  am  sud 
denly  and  unexpectedly  elevated  to  be  the  head  of  our 
ancient  and  honorable  family  ;  but  I  know  my  own  per 
sonal  unworthiness  to  occupy  that  distinguished  place,  and 
feel  how  much  better  it  would  be  filled  by  yourself. 
Although  the  law  has  placed  a  wide  and  impassable 
barrier  between  all  of  your  branch  of  the  family  and  our 
selves,  I  shall  ever  be  ready  to  acknowledge  the  affinity, 
and  to  confess  that  it  does  us  quite  as  much  honor  as  it 
bestows." 

Sir  Reginald,  by  a  great  effort,  commanded  himself  so 
far  as  to  return  the  bow,  and  apparently  to  receive  the  con 
descending  admissions  of  the  speech,  with  a  proper  degree 
of  respect. 

"Sir,  I  thank  you,"  he  answered,  with  formal  courtesy  ; 
"  no  affinity  that  can  be  properly  and  legally  established, 
will  ever  be  disavowed  by  me.  Under  present  circum 
stances,  however,  summoned  as  I  have  been  to  the  side  of 
his  death-bed,  by  the  late  Sir  Wycherly  himself,  and 
named  by  him,  as  one  might  say,  with  his  dying  breath,  as 
his  executor,  I  feel  it  a  duty  to  inquire  into  the  rights  of 


202  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

all  parties,  and,  if  possible,  to  ascertain  who  is  the  suc 
cessor,  and  consequently  who  has  the  best  claim  to  com 
mand  here." 

"  You  surely  do  not  attach  any  validity,  Sir  Reginald,  to 
the  pretended  will  that  was  so  singularly  drawn  up  in  my 
dear  uncle's  presence,  an  hour  before  he  died  !  Had  that 
most  extraordinary  instrument  been  duly  signed  and 
sealed,  I  cannot  think  that  the  Doctor's  Commons  would 
sustain  it ;  but  unsigned  and  unsealed,  it  is  no  better  than 
so  much  waste  paper." 

"As  respects  real  estate,  sir,  though  so  great  a  loser  by 
the  delay  of  five  minutes,  I  am  willing  to  admit  that  you 
are  right.  With  regard  to  the  personals,  a  question  in 
equity — one  of  clearly-expressed  intention — might  pos 
sibly  arise  ;  though  even  of  that  I  am  by  no  means  cer 
tain." 

"No,  sir;  no,"  cried  Tom,  a  glow -of  triumph  coloring 
his  cheek,  in  spite  of  every  effort  to  appear  calm,  "no 
English  court  would  ever  disturb  the  natural  succession  to 
the  personals  !  I  am  the  last  man  to  wish  to  disturb  some 
of  these  legacies  ;  particularly  that  to  Mr.  Rotherham  and 
those  to  the  poor,  faithful  domestics  " — Tom  saw  the  pru 
dence  of  conciliating  allies,  and  at  such  a  critical  moment, 
and  his  declaration  had  an  instant  and  strong  effect,  as 
was  evident  by  the  countenances  of  many  of  the  listeners 
—  "and  I  may  say,  that  to  Miss  Mildred  Button;  all  of 
which  will  be  duly  paid,  precisely  as  if  my  beloved  uncle 
had  been  in  his  right  mind,  and  had  actually  made  the  be 
quests  ;  for  this  mixture  of  reason  and  justice,  with  wild 
and  extraordinary  conceits,  is  by  no  means  uncommon 
among  men  of  great  age,  and  in  their  last  moments.  How 
ever,  Sir  Reginald,  I  beg  you  will  proceed,  and  act  as  in 
your  judgment  the  extraordinary  circumstances  of  what 
may  be  called  a  very  peculiar  case,  require." 

"  I  conceive  it  to  be  our  duty,  sir,  to  search  for  a  will. 
If  Sir  Wycherly  has  actually  died  intestate,  it  will  be  time 
enough  to  inquire  into  the  question  of  the  succession  at 
common  law.  I  have  here  the  keys  of  his  private  secre 
tary  ;  and  Mr.  Furlong,  the  land-steward,  who  has  just  ar 
rived,  and  whom  you  see  in  the  room,  tells  me  Sir  Wycherly 
was  accustomed  to  keep  all  his  valuable  papers  in  this 
piece  of  furniture.  I  shall  now  proceed  to  open  it." 

"  Do  so,  Sir  Reginald  ;  no  one  can  have  a  stronger  de- 
sire  than  myself  to  ascertain  my  beloved  uncle's  pleasure. 


7777i    TWO  ADMIRALS.  203 

Those  to  whom  lie  seemed  to  wish  to  give,  even,  shall  not 
be  losers  for  the  want  of  his  name." 

Tom  was  greatly  raised  in  the  opinions  of  half  of  the 
room,  by  this  artful  declaration,  which  was  effectually  se 
curing  just  so  many  friends,  in  the  event  of  any  occurrence 
that  might  render  such  support  necessary. 

In  the  meantime,  Sir  Reginald,  assisted  by  the  steward, 
opened  the  secretary,  and  found  the  deposit  of  papers. 
The  leases  were  all  in  order  ;  the  title-deeds  were  properly 
arranged  ;  the  books  and  accounts  appeared  to  be  exactly 
kept  ;  ordinary  bills  and  receipts  were  filed  with  method  ; 
two  or  three  bags  of  guineas  proved  that  ready  cash  was 
not  wanting  ;  and,  in  short,  everything  showed  that  the 
deceased  had  left  his  affairs  in  perfect  order,  and  in  a  very 
intelligible  condition.  Paper  after  paper,  however,  was 
opened,  and  nothing  like  a  will,  rough  draft  or  copied,  was 
to  be  found.  Disappointment  was  strongly  painted  on  the 
faces  of  all  the  gentlemen  present  ;  for  they  had  ignorantly 
imbibed  the  opinion,  that  the  production  of  a  will  would, 
in  some  unknown  manner,  defeat  the  hopes  of  the  soi-disant 
Sir  Thomas  Wychecombe.  Nor  was  Tom,  himself,  alto 
gether  without  concern  ;  for,  since  the  recent  change  in 
his  uncle's  feelings  toward  himself,  he  had  a  secret  appre 
hension  that  some  paper  might  be  found  to  defeat  all  his 
hopes.  Triumph,  however,  gradually  assumed  the  place 
of  fear,  in  the  expression  of  his  countenance  ;  and  when 
Mr.  Furlong,  a  perfectly  honest  man,  declared  that  from 
the  late  Baronet's  habits,  as  well  as  from  the  result  of  this 
search,  he  did  not  believe  that  any  such  instrument  existed 
his  feeling  overflowed  in  language. 

"Not  so  fast,  Master  Furlong — not  so  fast,"  he  cried  ; 
''here  is  something  that  possibly  even  your  legal  acumen 
may  be  willing  to  term  a  will.  You  perceive,  gentlemen, 
I  have  it  in  my  possession  on  good  authority,  as  it  is  ad 
dressed  to  me  by  name,  and  that,  too,  in  Sir  Wycherly's 
own  handwriting  ;  the  envelope  is  sealed  with  his  private 
seal.  You  will  pronounce  this  to  be  my  dear  uncle's  hand, 
Furlong," — showing  the  superscription  of  the  letter — "and 
this  to  be  his  seal  ? " 

"Both  are  genuine,  gentlemen,"  returned  the  steward, 
with  a  sigh.  "  Thus  far,  Mr.  Thomas  is  in  the  right." 

"Mr.  Thomas,  sirrah  ! — and  why  not  Sir  Thomas  ?  Are 
baronets  addressed  as  other  men,  in  England?  But,  no 
matter !  There  is  a  time  for  all  things.  Sir  Gervaise 


204  TH&    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

Oakes,  as  you  are  perfectly  indifferent  in  this  affair,  I  ask 
of  you  the  favor  to  break  the  seal,  and  to  inquire  into  the 
contents  of  the  paper." 

The  Vice-admiral  was  not  slow  in  complying  ;  for,  by 
this  time  he  began  to  feel  an  intense  interest  in  the  result. 
The  reader  will  readily  understand  that  Tom  had  handed 
to  Sir  Gervaise  the  will  drawn  up  by  his  father,  and  which, 
after  inserting  his  reputed  nephew's  name,  Sir  Wycherly 
had  duly  executed,  and  delivered  to  the  person  most  ia- 
terested.  The  envelope,  address,  and  outer  seal,  Tom  had 
obtained  the  very  day  the  will  was  signed, 'after  assuring 
himself  of  the  contents  of  the  latter,  by  six  or  eight  care 
ful  perusals.  The  Vice-admiral  read  the  instrument  from 
beginning  to  end,  before  he  put  it  into  the  hands  of  Sir 
Reginald  to  examine.  The  latter  fully  expected  to  meet 
with  a  clumsy  forgery ;  but  the  instant  his  eyes  fell  on  the 
phraseology,  he  perceived  that  the  will  had  been  drawn  by 
one  expert  in  the  law.  A  second  look  satisfied  him  that 
the  hand  was  that  of  Mr.  Baron  Wychecombe.  It  has 
already  been  said,  that  in  this  instrument,  Sir  Wycherly 
bequeathed  all  he  had  on  earth,  to  "his  nephew,  Thomas 
Wychecombe,  son,  etc.,  etc.,"  making  his  heir,  also,  his 
executor. 

"This  will  appears  to  me  to  have  been  drawn  up  by  a 
very  skilful  lawyer ;  the  late  Baron  Wychecombe,"  ob 
served  the  Baronet. 

"It  was,  Sir  Reginald,"  answered  Tom,  endeavoring  to 
appear  unconcerned.  "  He  did  it  to  oblige  my  respected 
uncle,  leaving  blanks  for  the  name  of  the  devisee,  not 
liking  to  make  a  will  so  very  decidedly  in  favor  of  his  own 
son.  The  writing  in  the  blanks  is  by  Sir  Wycherly  him 
self,  leaving  no  doubts  of  his  intentions." 

"  I  do  not  see  but  you  may  claim  to  be  the  heir  of  Wyche 
combe,  sir,  as  well  as  of  the  personals  ;  though  your  claims 
to  the  baronetcy  shall  certainly  be  contested  and  defeated." 

"And  why  defeated?"  demanded  Wycherly,  stepping 
forward  for  the  first  time,  and  speaking  with  a  curiosity  he 
found  it  difficult  to  control.  "Is  not  Mr.  Thomas— Sir 
Thomas,  I  ought  rather  to  say — the  eldest  son  of  the  late 
Sir  Wycherly's  next  brother ;  and,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
heir  to  the  title,  as  well  as  to  the  estate  ?" 

"  Not  he,  as  I  can  answer  from  a  careful  examination  of 
proofs.  Mr.  Baron  Wychecombe  was  never  married,  and 
thus  could  have  no  heir-at-law." 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  205 

"Is  this  possible  !  How  have  we  all  been  deceived  then, 
in  America  !  " 

"Why  do  you  say  this,  young  gentleman?  Can  you 
have  any  legal  claims  here  ? " 

"  I  am  Wycherly,  the  only  son  of  Wycherly,  who  was 
the  eldest  son  of  Gregory,  the  younger  brother  of  the  late 
Baronet  ;  and  if  what  you  say  be  true,  the  next  in  succes 
sion  to  the  baronetcy,  at  least." 

"This  is" — Tom's  words  stuck  in  his  throat:  for  the 
quiet,  stern  eye  of  the  young  sailor  met  his  look  and 
warned  him  to  be  prudent.  "This  is  a  mistake,"  he  re 
sumed.  "  My  uncle  Gregory  was  lost  at  sea,  and  died  a 
bachelor.  He  can  have  left  no  lawful  issue." 

"  I  must  say,  young  gentleman,"  added  Sir  Reginald, 
gravely,  "  that  such  has  always  been  the  history  of  his 
fate.  I  have  had  too  near  an  interest  in  this  family,  to 
neglect  its  annals." 

"  I  know,  sir,  that  such  has  been  the  opinion  here  for 
more  than  half  a  century  ;  but  it  was  founded  in  error. 
The  facts  are  simply  these.  My  grandfather,  a  warm 
hearted  but  impetuous  young  man,  struck  an  older  lieuten 
ant,  when  ashore  and  on  duty,  in  one  of  the  West  India 
Islands.  The  penalty  was  death  ;  but  neither  the  partv 
injured,  nor  the  commander  of  the  vessel,  wished  to  push 
matters  to  extremity,  and  the  offender  was  advised  to  ab 
sent  himself  from  the  ship,  at  the  moment  of  sailing.  The 
injured  party  was  induced  to  take  this  course,  as  in  a  pre 
vious  quarrel  my  grandfather  had  received  his  fire,  without 
returning  it  ;  frankly  admitting  his  fault.  The  ship  did 
sail  without  Mr.  Gregory  Wychecombe,  and  was  lost,  every 
soul  on  board  perishing.  My  grandfather  passed  into 
Virginia  where  he  remained  a  twelve-month,  suppressing 
his  story,  lest  its  narration  might  lead  to  military  punish 
ment.  Love  next  sealed  his  future  fate.  He  married  a 
woman  of  fortune,  and  though  his  history  was  well  known 
in  his  own  retired  circle,  it  never  spread  beyond  it.  No 
one  supposed  him  near  the  succession,  and  there  was  no 
motive  for  stating  the  fact,  on  account  of  his  interests. 
Once  he  wrote  to  Sir  Wycherly,  but  he  suppressed  the 
letter,  as  likely  to  give  more  pain  than  pleasure.  That 
letter  I  now  have,  and  in  his  own  handwriting.  I  have 
also  his  commission,  and  all  the  other  proofs  of  identity 
that  such  a  person  would  be  apt  to  possess.  They  are  as 
complete  as  any  court  in  Christendom  would  be  likely  to 


206  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

require,  for  he  never  felt  a  necessity  for  changing  his 
name.  He  has  been  dead  but  two  years,  and  previously 
to  dying  he  saw  that  every  document  necessary  to  establish 
my  claim,  should  a  moment  for  enforcing  it  ever  arrive, 
was  put  in  such  a  legal  form  as  to  admit  of  no  cavilling. 
He  outlived  my  own  father,  but  none  of  us  thought  there 
was  any  motive  for  presenting  ourselves,  as  all  believed 
that  the  sons  of  Baron  Wychecombe  were  legitimate.  I 
can  only  say,  sir,  that  I  have  complete  legal  evidence  that 
I  am  heir-at-law  of  Gregory,  the  younger  brother  of  the 
late  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe.  Whether  the  fact  will 
give  me  any  rights  here,  you  best  can  say." 

"  It  will  make  you  heir  of  entail  to  this  estate,  master 
of  this  house,  and  of  most  of  what  it  contains,  and  the 
present  baronet.  You  have  only  to  prove  what  you  say, 
to  defeat  every  provision  of  this  will,  with  the  exception 
of  tnat  which  refers  to  the  personal  estate." 

"  Bravo  ! "  cried  Sir  Gervaise,  fairly  rubbing  his  hands 
with  delight.  "  Bravo,  Dick  ;  if  we  were  aboard  the 
Plantagenet,  by  the  Lord,  I'd  turn  the  hands  up,  and 
have  three  cheers.  So  then,  my  brave  young  seaman,  you 
turn  out  to  be  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  after  all  !  " 

"  Yes,  that's  the  way  we  always  does  on  board  ship," 
observed  Galleygo,  to  the  group  of  domestics  :  "whenever 
any  thing  of  a  hallooing  character  turns  up.  Sometimes 
we  makes  a  signal  to  Admiral  Blue  and  the  rest  on  'em,  to 
*  Stand  by  to  cheer,'  and  all  of  us  sets  to,  to  cheer  as  if 
our  stomachs  was  full  of  hurrahs,  and  we  wanted  to  get 
rid  on  'em.  If  Sir  Jarvy  would  just  pass  the  word  now, 
you'd  have  a  taste  of  that  'ere  custom,  that  would  do  your 
ears  good  for  a  twelvemonth.  It's  a  cheering  matter  when 
one  of  the  trade  falls  heir  to  an  estate." 

"And  would  this  be  a  proper  mode  of  settling  a  ques 
tion  of  a  right  of  property,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes?"  asked 
Tom,  with  more  of  right  and  reason  than  he  commonly 
had  of  his  side  ;  "and  that,  too,  with  my  uncle  lying  dead 
beneath  this  roof  ?  " 

"I  acknowledge  the  justice  of  the  reproof,  young  sir, 
and  will  say  no  more  in  the  matter — at  least,  nothing  as 
indiscreet  as  my  last  speech.  Sir  Reginald,  you  have  the 
affair  in  hand,  and  I  recommend  it  to  your  serious  atten 
tion." 

"  Fear  nothing,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  he  of  Hertford 
shire.  "Justice  shall  be  done  in  the  premises,  if  justice 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  207 

rule  in  England.  Your  story,  young  gentleman,  is  prob 
able,  and  naturally  told,  and  I  see  a  family  likeness  be 
tween  you  and  the  Wychecombes,  generally  ;  a  likeness 
that  is  certainly  not  to  be  traced  in  the  person  of  the  other 
claimant.  Did  the  point  depend  on  the  legitimacy  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Wychecombe,  it  might  be  easily  determined,  as  I 
have  his  own  mother's  declaration  to  the  fact  of  his  illegit 
imacy,  as  well  as  of  one  other  material  circumstance  that 
may  possibly  unsettle  even  the  late  Baron  Wychecombe's 
will.  But  this  testamentary  devise  of  Sir  Wycherly  appears 
to  be  perfect,  and  nothing  but  the  entail  can  defeat  it.  You 
speak  of  your  proofs  ;  where  are  they  ?  It  is  all-impor 
tant  to  know  which  party  is  entitled  to  possession." 

u  Here  they  are,  sir,"  answered  Wycherly,  removing  a 
belt  from  his  body,  and  producing  his  papers  ;  "  not  in  the 
originals,  certainly ;  for  most  of  them  are  matters  of 
official  record,  in  Virginia;  but  in  what  the  lawyers  call 
*  exemplified  copies,'  and  which  I  am  told  are  in  a  fit  state 
to  be  read  as  evidence  in  any  court  of  England,  that  can 
take  cognizance  of  the  matter." 

Sir  Reginald  took  the  papers,  and  began  to  read  them, 
one  by  one,  and  with  deep  attention.  The  evidence  of 
the  identity  of  the  grandfather  was  full,  and  of  the  clearest 
nature.  He  had  been  recognized  as  an  old  schoolfellow 
by  one  of  the  governors  of  the  colony,  and  it  was  at  this 
gentleman's  suggestion  that  he  had  taken  so  much  pains 
to  perpetuate  the  evidence  of  his  identity.  Both  the  mar 
riages,  one  with  Jane  Beverly,  and  the  other  with  Rebecca 
Randolph,  were  fully  substantiated,  as  were  the  two  births. 
The  personal  identity  of  the  young  man,  and  this  too  as 
the  only  son  of  Wycherly,  the  eldest  son  of  Gregory,  was 
well  certified  to,  and  in  a  way  that  could  leave  no  doubt 
as  to  the  person  meant.  In  a  word,  the  proofs  were  such 
as  a  careful  and  experienced  lawyer  would  have  prepared, 
in  a  case  that  admitted  of  no  doubt,  and  which  was  liable 
to  be  contested  in  a  court  of  law.  Sir  Reginald  was  quite 
half  an  hour  in  looking  over  the  papers  ;  and  during  this 
time,  every  eye  in  the  room  was  on  him,  watching  the  ex 
pression  of  his  countenance  with  the  utmost  solicitude. 
At  length  he  finished  his  task,  when  he  again  turned  to 
Wycherly. 

"  These  papers  have  been  prepared  with  great  method, 
and  an  acute  knowledge  of  what  might  be  required,"  he 
said.  "  Why  have  they  been  so  long  suppressed,  and  why 


208  THE  TWO  ADMIRALS. 

did  you  permit  Sir  Wycherly  to  die  in  ignorance  of  your 
near  affinity  to  him,  and  of  your  claims?" 

"  Of  my  claims  I  was  ignorant  myself,  believing  not  only 
Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  but  his  two  brothers,  to  stand 
before  me.  This  was  the  opinion  of  my  grandfather,  even 
when  he  caused  these  proofs  to  be  perpetuated.  They 
were  given  to  me,  that  I  might  claim  affinity  to  the  family 
on  my  arrival  in  England  ;  and  it  was  the  injunction  of 
my  grandfather  that  they  should  be  worn  on  my  person, 
until  the  moment  arrived  when  I  could  use  them." 

"  This  explains  your  not  preferring  the  claim  ;  why  not 
prefer  the  relationship  ?" 

"  What  for,  sir  ?  I  found  America  and  Americans 
looked  dowrn  on,  in  England  ;  colonists  spoken  of  as  a  race 
of  inferior  beings — of  diminished  stature,  feebler  intellects, 
and  a  waning  spirit,  as  compared  to  those  from  whom 
they  had  so  recently  sprung ;  and  I  was  too  proud  to  con 
fess  an  affinity  where  I  saw  it  was  not  desired.  When 
wounded,  and  expecting  to  die,  I  was  landed  here  at  my 
own  request,  with  an  intention  to  state  the  facts  ;  but,  fall 
ing  under  the  care  of  ministering  angels  " — here  Wycherly 
glanced  his  eye  at  Mildred  and  her  mother — "I  less  felt 
the  want  of  relatives.  Sir  Wycherly  I  honored  ;  but  he 
too  manifestly  regarded  us  Americans  as  inferiors,  to  leave 
any  wish  to  tell  him  I  was  his  great-nephew." 

"  I  fear  we  are  not  altogether  free  from  this  reproach 
Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  Sir  Reginald,  thoughtfully.  "  We 
do  appear  to  think  that  there  is  something  in  the  air  of  this 
part  of  the  island,  that  renders  us  better  than  common. 
Nay,  if  a  claim  come  from  over  water,  let  it  be  what  it  may, 
it  strikes  us  as  a  foreign  and  inadmissible  claim.  The  fate 
from  which  even  princes  are  not  exempt,  humbler  men 
must  certainly  submit  to  !" 

"  I  can  understand  the  feeling,  and  I  think  it  honorable 
to  the  young  man.  Admiral  Bluewrater,  you  and  I  have 
had  occasion  often  to  rebuke  this  very  spirit  in  our  young 
officers ;  and  you  will  agree  with  me  when  I  say  that  this 
gentleman  has  acted  naturally  in  acting  as  he  has." 

"  I  must  corroborate  what  you  say,  Sir  Gervaise,"  an 
swered  Bluewater  ;  "and  as  one  who  has  seen  much  of 
the  colonies,  and  who  is  getting  to  be  an  old  man,  I  ven 
ture  to  predict  that  this  very  feeling,  sooner  or  later,  will 
draw  down  upon  England  its  own  consequences,  in  the 
shape  of  condign  punishment." 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS,  209 

"I  don't  go  as  far  as  that,  Dick — I  don't  go  as  far  as  that. 
But  it  is  unwise  and  unsound,  and  we,  who  know  both 
hemispheres,  ought  to  set  our  faces  against  it.  We  have 
already  some  gallant  fellows  from  that  quarter  of  the 
world  among  us,  and  I  hope  to  live  to  see  more." 

This,  let  it  be  remembered,  was  said  before  the  Hal- 
lowells,  and  Coffins,  and  Brentons  of  our  own  times  were 
enrolled  in  a  service  that  has  since  become  foreign  to  that 
of  the  land  of  their  birth  ;  but  it  was  prophetic  of  their 
appearance,  and  of  that  of  many  other  high  names  from 
the  colonies,  in  the  lists  of  the  British  marine.  Wycherly 
smiled  proudly,  but  he  made  no  answer.  All  this  time  Sir 
Reginald  had  been  musing  on  what  had  passed. 

"  It  would  seem,  gentlemen,"  the  latter  now  observed, 
"  that,  contrary  to  our  belief,  there  is  an  heir  to  the  bar 
onetcy,  as  well  as  to  the  estate  of  Wychecombe  ;  and 
all  our  regrets  that  the  late  incumbent  did  not  live  to  ex 
ecute  the  will  we  had  drawn  at  his  request,  have  become 
useless.  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  I  congratulate  you 
on  thus  succeeding  to  the  honors  and  estates  of  your 
family ;  and,  as  a  member  of  the  last,  I  may  be  permitted 
to  congratulate  all  of  the  name  in  being  so  worthily  rep 
resented.  For  one  of  that  family  I  cheerfully  recognize 
you  as  its  head  and  chief." 

Wycherly  bowed  his  acknowledgmnts,  receiving  also 
the  compliments  of  most  of  the  others  present.  Tom 
Wychecombe,  however,  formed  an  exception,  and  instead 
of  manifesting  any  disposition  to  submit  to  this  summary 
disposal  of  his  claims,  he  was  brooding  over  the  means  of 
maintaining  them.  Detecting  by  the  countenances  of  the 
upper  servants  that  they  were  effectually  bribed  by  his 
promise  to  pay  the  late  Baronet's  legacies,  he  felt  toler 
ably  confident  of  support  from  that  quarter.  He  well 
knew  that  possession  was  nine  points  of  the  law,  and  his 
thoughts  naturally  turned  toward  the  means  necessary  to 
securing  this  great  advantage.  As  yet,  the  two  claimants 
were  on  a  par  in  this  respect ;  for  while  the  executed  will 
might  seem  to  give  him  a  superior  claim,  no  authority  that 
was  derived  from  an  insufficient  source  would  be  deemed 
available  in  law  ;  and  Sir  Wycherly  had  clearly  no  right 
to  devise  Wychecombe,  so  long  as  there  existed  an  heir  of 
entail.  Both  parties,  too,  were  merely  guests  in  the 
house  ;  so  that  neither  had  any  possession  that  would  re 
quire  a  legal  process  to  eject  him.  Tom  had  been  entered 


210  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

at  the  Temple,  and  had  some  knowledge  of  the  law  of  the 
land,  more  especially  as  related  to  real  estate  ;  and  he  was 
aware  that  there  existed  some  quaint  ceremony  of  taking 
possession,  as  it  existed  under  the  feudal  system  ;  but  he 
was  ignorant  of  the  precise  forms,  and  had  some  reason 
able  doubts  how  far  they  would  benefit  him,  under  the 
peculiar  circumstances  of  this  case.  On  the  whole,  therefore, 
he  was  disposed  to  try  the  effect  of  timidation,  by  means  of 
the  advantages  he  clearly  possessed,  and  of  such  little  rea 
son  as  the  facts  connected  with  his  claim  allowed  him  to 
offer. 

"  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,"  he  said,  gravely,  and  with 
as  much  indifference  as  he  could  assume  ;  "you  have  be 
trayed  a  facility  of  belief  in  this  American  history,  that 
has  surprised  me  in  one  with  so  high  a  reputation  for 
prudence  and  caution.  This  sudden  revival  of  the  dead 
may  answer  for  the  credulous  lovers  of  marvels,  but  it 
would  hardly  do  for  a  jury  of  twelve  sober-minded  and 
sworn  men.  Admitting  the  wliole  of  this  gentleman's 
statement  to  be  true,  however,  you  will  not  deny  the  late 
Sir  Wycherly's  right  to  make  a  will,  if  he  only  devised  his 
old  shoes  ;  and,  having  this  right,  that  of  naming  his  exec 
utor  necessarily  accompanied  it.  Now,  sir,  I  am  clearly 
that  executor,  and  as  such  I  demand  leave  to  exercise 
my  functions  in  this  house,  as  its  temporary  master,  at 
least." 

"  Not  so  fast — not  so  fast,  young  sir.  Wills  must  be 
proved  and  executors  qualified,  before  either  has  any 
validity.  Then,  again,  Sir  Wycherly  could  only  give  au 
thority  over  that  which  was  his  own.  The  instant  he  ceased 
to  breathe,  his  brother  Gregory's  grandson  became  the 
life  tenant  of  this  estate,  the  house  included  ;  and  I  advise 
him  to  assert  that  right,  trusting  to  the  validity  of  his 
claim,  for  his  justification  in  law,  should  it  become  neces 
sary.  In  these  matters  he  who  is  right  is  safe  ;  while  he 
who  is  wrong  must  take  the  consequences  of  his  own  acts. 
Mr.  Furlong,  your  stewardship  ceased  with  the  life  of  your 
principal  ;  if  you  have  any  keys  or  papers  to  deliver,  I 
advise  your  placing  them  in  the  hands  of  this  gentleman, 
whom,  beyond  all  cavil,  I  take  to  be  the  rightful  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe." 

Furlong  was  a  cautious,  clear-headed,  honest  man,  and 
with  every  desire  to  see  Tom  defeated,  he  was  tenacious 
of  doing  his  duty.  lie  led  Sir  Reginald  aside,  therefore, 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  211 

and  examined  him,  at  some  length,  touching  the  nature  of 
the  proofs  that  had  been  offered  ;  until,  quite  satisfied  that 
there  could  be  no  mistake,  he  declared  his  willingness  to 
comply  with  the  request. 

"  Certainly,  I  hold  the  keys  of  the  late  Sir  Wycherly's 
papers — those  that  have  just  been  seen  in  the  search  for 
the  will,"  he  said,  "  and  have  every  wish  to  place  them  in 
the  hands  of  the  proper  owner.  Here  they  are,  Sir  Wy- 
cherly  ;  though  I  would  advise  you  to  remove  the  bags  of 
gold  that  are  in  the  secretary,  to  some  other  place  ;  as 
those  your  uncle  had  a  right  to  bequeath  to  whom  he  saw 
fit.  Everything  else  in  the  secretary  goes  with  the  estate  ; 
as  do  the  plate,  furniture,  and  other  heir-looms  of  the 
Hall." 

"  I  thank  you,  Mr.  Furlong,  and  I  will  first  use  these 
keys  to  follow  your  advice,"  answered  the  new  Baronet, 
"  then  I  will  return  them  to  you  with  a  request  that  you 
will  still  retain  the  charge  of  all  your  former  duties." 

This  was  no  sooner  said  than  done  :  Wycherly  placing 
the  bags  of  gold  on  the  floor,  until  some  other  place  of 
security  could  be  provided. 

"All  that  I  legally  can.  Sir  Wycherly,  will  I  cheerfully 
do,  in  order  to  aid  you  in  the  assertion  of  your  right  ; 
though  I  do  not  see  how  I  can  transfer  more  than  I  hold. 
Qni  facit  per  alium^  facit per  se,  is  good  law,  Sir  Reginald  ; 
but  the  principal  must  have  power  to  act,  before  the  dep 
uty  can  exercise  authority.  It  appears  to  me  that  this  is 
a  case,  in  which  each  party  stands  on  his  own  rights,  at 
his  own  peril.  The  possession  of  the  farm  is  safe  enough, 
for  the  time  being,  with  the  tenants  ;  but  as  to  the  Hall 
and  Park,  there  would  seem  to  be  no  one  in  the  legal 
occupancy.  This  makes  a  case  in  which  title  is  immedi 
ately  available." 

"  Such  is  the  law,  Mr.  Furlong,  and  I  advise  Sir  Wy 
cherly  to  take  possession  of  the  key  of  the  outer  door  at 
once,  as  master  of  the  tenement." 

No  sooner  was  this  opinion  given,  then  Wycherly  left 
the  room,  followed  by  all  present  to  the  hall.  Here  he 
proceeded  alone  to  the  vestibule,  locked  the  great  door  of 
the  building,  and  put  the  key  in  his  pocket.  This  act  was 
steadily  performed,  and  in  a  way  to  counteract,  in  a  great 
degree,  the  effect  on  the  domestics,  of  Tom's  promises  con 
cerning  the  legacies.  At  the  same  moment,  Furlong  whis 
pered  something  in  the  ear  of  Sir  Reginald. 


212  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"Now  you  are  quietly  in  possession,  Sir  Wycherly,"  said 
the  latter,  smiling,  "there  is  no  necessity  of  keeping  us  all 
prisoners  in  order  to  maintain  your  claims.  David,  the 
usual  porter,  Mr.  Furlong  tells  me,  is  a  faithful  servant, 
and  if  he  will  accept  of  the  key  as  your  agent,  it  may  be 
returned  to  him  with  perfect  legal  safety." 

As  David  cheerfully  assented  to  this  proposition,  the  key 
was  put  into  his  hands  again,  and  the  new  Sir  Wycherly 
was  generally  thought  to  be  in  possession.  Nor  did  Tom 
dare  to  raise  the  contemplated  question  of  his  own  legiti 
macy  before  Sir  Reginald,  who,  he  had  discovered,  pos 
sessed  a  clue  to  the  facts  ;  and  he  consequently  suppressed, 
for  the  moment  at  least,  the  certificate  of  marriage  he  had 
so  recently  forged. 

Bowing  round  to  the  whole  company,  therefore,  with  a 
sort  of  sarcastic  compliance,  he  stalked  off  to  his  own  room 
with  the  air  of  an  injured  man.  This  left  our  young  hero 
in  possession  of  the  field  ;  but,  as  the  condition  of  the 
house  was  not  one  suitable  to  an  unreasonable  display  of 
triumph,  the  party  soon  separated  ;  some  to  consult  con 
cerning  the  future,  some  to  discourse  of  the  past,  and  all 
to  wonder,  more  or  less,  at  the  present. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Let  winds  be  shrill,  let  waves  roll  high, 

I  fear  not  wave  nor  wind  ; 
Yet  marvel  not,  Sir  Childe,  that  I 

Am  sorrowful  of  mind. — Childe  Harold. 

"  WELL,  Sir  Jarvy,"  said  Galleygo,  following  on  the  heels 
of  the  two  Admirals,  as  the  latter  entered  the  dressing- 
room  of  the  officer  addressed  ;  "  it  has  turned  out  just  as 
I  thought ;  and  the  County  of  Fair-villain  has  come  out 
of  his  hole,  like  a  porpoise  coming  up  to  breathe,  the  mo 
ment  our  backs  is  turned  !  As  soon  as  we  gives  the  order 
to  squar-away  for  England,  and  I  see  the  old  Planter's 
cabin  windows  turned  upon  France,  I  foreseed  them  con 
sequences.  Well,  gentlemen,  here's  been  a  heap  of  prize- 
money  made  in  this  house  without  much  fighting.  \V< 
shall  have  to  give  the  young  Lieutenant  a  leave  for  a 
months,  in  order  that  he  may  take  his  swing  ashore,  hen 
among  his  brother  squires  !  " 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  213 

"  Pray,  sir,  what  may  be  your  pleasure  ?"  demanded  Sir 
Gervaise  ;  "and  what  the  devil  has  brought  you  at  my 
heels  ?  " 

"  Why,  big  ships  always  tows  small  craft,  your  honor," 
returned  Galleygo,  simpering.  "  Howsever,  I  never  comes 
without  an  errand,  as  everybody  knows.  You  see,  Sir 
Jarvv,  you  see,  Admiral  Blue,  that  our  signal  officer  is 
ashore,  with  a  report  for  us  ;  and  meeting  me  in  the  hall, 
he  made  it  to  me  first  like,  that  I  might  bring  it  up  to  you 
a'terwards.  His  news  is  that  the  French  county  is  gone  to 
sea,  as  I  has  just  told  you,  gentlemen." 

"  Can  it  be  possible  that  Bunting  has  brought  any  such 
tidings  here  !  Harkee,  Galleygo  ;  desire  Mr.  Bunting  to 
walk  up  ;  and  then  see  that  you  behave  yourself  as  is  de 
cent  in  a  house  of  mourning." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir.  No  fears  of  I,  gentlemen.  I  can  put 
on  as  grevious  a  look  as  the  best  on  'em,  and  if  they  wishes 
to  see  sorrow  becomingly,  and  ship-shape,  let  them  study 
my  conduct  and  countenance.  We  has  all  seen  dead  men 
afore  now,  as  we  all  knows.  When  we  fou't  Mounsheer 
Graveland  (Gravelin),  we  had  forty-seven  slain,  besides 
the  hurt  that  lived  to  tell  their  own  pain  ;  and  when  we 
had  the " 

"  Go  to  the  devil,  Master  Galleygo,  and  desire  Mr.  Bun 
ting  to  walk  up-stairs,"  cried  Sir  Gervaise,  impatiently. 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir.     Which  will  your  honor  have  done  first  ?" 

"Let  me  see  the  signal-officer,  first,"  answered  the  Vice- 
admiral,  laughing  ;  "  then  be  certain  of  executing  the 
other  order." 

"Well,"  muttered  Galleygo,  as  he  descended  the  stairs  ; 
"  if  I  was  to  do  as  he  says,  now,  what  would  we  do  with  the 
fleet  ?  Ships  wants  orders  to  fight ;  and  flags  wants  food 
to  give  orders  ;  and  food  wants  stewards  to  be  put  upon 
the  table  ;  and  stewards  wTants  no  devils  to  help  'em  do 
their  duty.  No,  no,  sir,  Sir  Jarvy  ;  I'll  not  pay  that  visit, 
till  we  all  goes  in  company,  as  is  suitable  for  them  that  has 
sailed  so  long  together." 

"  This  will  be  great  news,  Dick,  if  De  Vervillin  has  really 
come  out !  "  cried  Sir  Gervaise,  rubbing  his  hands  with  de 
light.  "  Hang  me,  if  I  wait  for  orders  from  London  ;  but 
we'll  sail  with  the  first  wind  and  tide.  Let  them  settle  the 
quarrel  at  home,  as  best  they  can  ;  it  is  our  business  to 
catch  the  Frenchman.  How  many  ships  do  you  really  sup 
pose  the  Count  to  have  ?  " 


214  THE   TWO   ADMIRALS. 

"Twelve  of  two  decks,  besides  one  three-decker,  and 
beating  us  in  frigates.  Two  or  three,  however,  are  short 
vessels,  and  cannot  be  quite  as  heavy  as  our  own.  I  see  no 
reason  why  we  should  not  engage  him." 

"  I  rejoice  to  hear  you  say  so  !  How  much  more  honor 
able  is  it  to  seek  the  enemy,  than  to  be  intriguing  about  p. 
court !  I  hope  you  intend  to  let  me  announce  that  red  rib 
bon  in  general  orders  to-morrow,  Dick  ? " 

"  Never,  with  my  consent,  Sir  Gervaise,  so  long  as  the 
house  of  Hanover  confers  the  boon.  But  what  an  extra 
ordinary  scene  we  have  just  had  below  !  This  young  Lieu 
tenant  is  a  noble  fellow,  and  I  hope,  with  all  my  heart,  he 
will  be  enabled  to  make  good  his  claim." 

"  Of  that  Sir  Reginald  assures  me  there  can  be  no  man 
ner  of  doubt.  His  papers  are  in  perfect  order,  and  his  story 
simple  and  probable.  Do  you  not  remember  hearing,  when 
we  were  midshipmen  in  the  West  Indies,  of  a  lieutenant  of 
the  Sappho's  striking  a  senior  officer  ashore  ;  and  of  his 
having  been  probably  saved  from  the  sentence  of  death,  by 
the  loss  of  the  ship  ?  " 

"  As  well  as  if  it  were  yesterday,  now  you  name  the  ves 
sel.  And  this  you  suppose  to  have  been  the  late  Sir  Wych- 
erly's  brother.  Did  he  belong  to  the  Sappho  ?  " 

"  So  they  tell  me,  below  ;  and  it  leaves  no  doubt  on  my 
mind,  of  the  truth  of  the  whole  story." 

"  It  is  a  proof,  too,  how  easy  it  is  for  one  to  return  to 
England,  and  maintain  his  rights,  after  an  absence  of  more 
than  half  a  century.  He  in  Scotland  has  a  claim  quite  as 
strong  as  that  of  this  youth  !  " 

"  Dick  Bluewater,  you  seem  determined  to  pull  a  house 
down  about  your  own  ears  !  What  have  you  or  I  to  do  with 
these  Scotch  adventurers,  when  a  gallant  enemy  invites  us 
to  come  out  and  meet  him  !  But,  mum — here  is  Bunting." 

At  this  instant  the  signal-lieutenant  of  the  Plantagenet 
was  shown  into  the  room,  by  Galleygo,  in  person. 

"  Well,  Bunting;  what  tidings  from  the  fleet?"  demanded 
Sir  Gervaise.  "  Do  the  ships  still  ride  to  the  flood?" 

"  It  is  slack-water,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  the  vessels  are  look 
ing  all  ways  at  once.  Most  of  us  are  clearing  hawse,  for 
there  are  more  round  turns  in  our  cables,  than  I  remember 
ever  to  have  seen  in  so  short  a  time." 

"  That  comes  of  there  being  no  wind,  and  the  uselessness 
of  the  staysails  and  spankers.  What  has  brought  you 
ashore  ?  Galleygo  tells  us  something  of  a  cutter's  coming 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  215 

in,  with  information  that  the  French  are  out ;  but  his  news 
is  usually  galley-news." 

''Not  always,  Sir  Gervaise  ;"  returned  the  Lieutenant, 
casting  a  side-look  at  the  steward,  who  often  comforted  him 
with  ship's  delicacies  in  the  Admiral's  cabin  ;  "  This  time 
he  is  right,  at  least.  The  Active  is  coming  in  slowly,  and 
has  been  signaling  us  all  the  morning.  We  make  her  out 
to  say  that  Monsieur  Vervillin  is  at  sea  with  his  wrhole 
force." 

"Yes,"  muttered  Galleygo  to  the  Rear-admiral,  in  a  sort 
of  aside  ;  "  the  County  of  Fairvillain  has  come  out  of  his 
hole,  just  as  I  told  Sir  Jarvy.  Fair-weather-villains  they 
all  is,  and  no  bones  broken." 

" Silence!  And  you  think,  Bunting,  you  read  the  sig 
nals  clearly?" 

"  No  doubt  of  it,  Sir  Gervaise.  Captain  Greenly  is  of 
the  same  opinion,  and  has  sent  me  ashore  with  the  news. 
He  desired  me  to  tell  you  that  the  ebb  would  make  in  half 
an  hour,  and  that  we  can  then  fetch  past  the  rocks  to  the 
westward,  light  as  the  wind  is." 

"Aye,  that  is  Greenly,  I  can  swear.  He'll  not  sit  down 
until  we  are  all  aweigh,  and  standing  out  ?  Does  the  cut 
ter  tell  us  which  way  the  Count  was  looking?" 

"To  the  westward,  sir;  on  an  easy  bowline,  and  under 
short  canvas." 

"  The  gentleman  is  in  no  hurry,  it  would  seem.  Has  he 
a  convoy  ? " 

"Not  a  sail,  sir.  Nineteen  sail,  all  cruisers,  and  only 
twelve  of  the  line.  He  has  one  two-decker,  and  two 
frigates  more  than  we  can  muster  ;  just  a  Frenchman's 
odds,  sir." 

"The  Count  has  certainly  with  him  the  seven  new  ships 
that  were  built  last  season,"  quietly  observed  Bluewater, 
leaning  back  in  his  easy-chair,  until  his  body  inclined  at 
an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees,  and  stretching  a  leg  on  an 
empty  stand,  in  his  usual  self-indulgent  manner.  "  They 
are  a  little  heavier  than  their  old  vessels,  and  will  give  us 
harder  work." 

"The  tougher  the  job,  the  more  creditable  the  work 
manship.  The  tide  is  turning,  you  say,  Bunting?" 

"It  is,  Sir  Gervaise;  and  we  shall  all  tend  ebb,  in 
twenty  minutes.  The  frigates  outside  are  riding  down 
channel  already.  The  Chloe  seems  to  think  that  we  shall 
be  moving  soon,  as  she  has  crossed  top-gallant  and  royal- 


2i6  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

yards.  Even  Captain  Greenly  was  thinking  of  stretching 
along  the  messenger.' 

"Ah!  you're  a  set  of  uneasy  fellows  all  round!  You 
tire  of  your  native  land  in  twenty-four  hours,  I  find.  Well, 
Mr.  Bunting  ;  you  can  go  oft",  and  say  that  all  is  very  well. 
This  house  is  in  a  sad  state  of  confusion,  as,  I  presume, 
you  know.  Mention  this  to  Captain  Greenly." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir;  is  it  your  pleasure  I  should  tell  him 
anything  else,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes?" 

"  Why — yes,  Bunting,"  answered  the  Vice-admiral,  smil 
ing  ;  "You  may  as  well  give  him  a  hint  to  get  all  his  fresh 
grub  off,  as  fast  as  he  can,  and— yes  ;  to  let  no  more  men 
quit  the  ship  on  liberty." 

"Anything  more,  Sir  Gervaise?"  added  the  pertinacious 
officer. 

"  On  the  whole,  you  may  as  well  run  up  a  signal  to  be 
ready  to  unmoor.  The  ships  can  very  well  ride  at  single 
anchors,  when  the  tide  has  once  fairly  made.  What  say 
you,  Blue  water  ? " 

"A  signal  to  unmoor,  at  once,  would  expedite  matters. 
You  know  very  well  you  intend  to  go  to  sea,  and  why  not 
do  the  thing  off-hand  ? " 

"  I  dare  say,  now,  Bunting,  you  too  would  like  to  give 
the  commander-in-chief  a  nudge  of  some  sort  or  other." 

"  If  I  could  presume  so  far,  Sir  Gervaise.  I  can  only 
say,  sir,  that  the  sooner  we  are  off,  the  sooner  we  shall  nog 
the  French." 

44 And  Master  Galleygo,  what  are  your  sentiments,  on 
this  occasion  ?  It  is  a  full  council  and  all  ought  to  speak, 
freely." 

**  You  knows,  Sir  Jarvey,  that  I  never  speaks  in  these 
matters,  unless  spoken  to.  Admiral  Blue  and  your  honor 
are  quite  enough  to  take  care  of  the  fleet  in  most  circum 
stances,  though  there  is  some  knowledge  in  the  tops,  as 
well  as  in  the  cabin.  My  ideas  is,  gentlemen,  that,  by 
casting  to  starboard  on  this  ebb-tide,  we  shall  have  all  our 
heads  off-shore,  and  we  shall  fetch  into  the  offing  as  easily 
as  a  country  wench  turns  in  a  jig.  What  we  shall  do  with 
the  fleet,  when  we  gets  out,  will  be  shown  in  our  ultra 
movements." 

By  "  ultra,"  David  meant  "ulterior,"  a  word  he  had  caught 
up  from  hearing  dispatches  read,  which  he  understood  no 
better  than  those  who  \vrote  them  at  the  Admiralty. 

"  Thanks  to  you  all,  my  friends  !  "  cried  Sir  Gervaise, 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  217 

who  was  so  delighted  at  the  prospect  of  a  general  engage 
ment,  that  he  felt  a  boyish  pleasure  in  this  fooling  ;  "  and 
now  to  business,  seriously.  Mr.  Bunting,  I  would  have 
the  signal  for  sailing  shown.  Let  each  ship  fire  a  recall- 
gun  for  her  boats.  Half  an  hour  later,  showing  the  bunt 
ing  to  unmoor  ;  and  send  my  boat  ashore  as  soon  as  you 
begin  to  heave  on  the  capstan.  So,  good  morning,  my  fine 
fellow,  and  show  your  activity." 

"  Mr.  Bunting,  as  you  pass  the  Caesar,  do  me  the  favor  to 
ask  for  my  boat,  also,"  said  Bluewrater,  lazily,  but  half- 
raising  his  body  to  look  after  the  retiring  Lieutenant. 
"  If  we  are  to  move,  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  go  with  the 
rest  of  them.  Of  course  we  shall  repeat  all  your  signals." 

Sir  Gervaise  waited  until  Bunting  was  out  of  the  room, 
when  he  turned  to  the  steward,  and  said  with  some  dryness 
of  manner  : 

"Mr.  Galleygo,  you  have  my  permission  to  go  on  board, 
bag  and  baggage." 

"  Yes,  Sir  Jarvey,  I  understand.  We  are  about  to  get  the 
ships  under  way,  and  good  men  ought  to  be  in  their 
places.  Good-bye,  Admiral  Blue.  We  shall  meet  before 
the  face  of  the  French,  and  then  I  expects  every  man  on 
us  will  set  an  example  to  himself  of  courage  and  devotion." 

"  That  fellow  grows  worse  and  worse,  each  day,  and  I 
shall  have  to  send  him  forward,  in  order  to  check  his  im 
pertinence,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  half-vexed  and  half-laugh 
ing.  "  I  wonder  you  stand  his  saucy  familiarity  as  well 
as  you  appear  to  do — with  his  Admiral  Blues  !  " 

"  I  shall  take  offense  as  soon  as  I  find  Sir  Jarvey 
really  out  of  humor  with  him.  The  man  is  brave,  honest, 
and  attached  ;  and  these  are  virtues  that  would  atone  for 
a  hundred  faults." 

"  Let  the  fellow  go  to  the  devil  !  Do  you  not  think  I  had 
better  go  out,  without  waiting  for  dispatches  from  town  ?  " 

"  It  is  hard  to  say.  Your  orders  may  send  us  all  down 
into  Scotland,  to  face  Charles  Stuart.  Perhaps,  too,  they 
may  make  you  a  duke,  and  me  a  baron,  in  order  to  secure 
our  fidelity!" 

"  The  blackguards  !  Well,  say  no  more  of  that  just  now. 
If  M.  de  Vervillin  is  steering  westward,  he  can  hardly  be 
aiming  at  Edinburgh,  and  the  movements  in  the  north." 

"That  is  by  no  means  so  certain.  Your  really  politic 
fellows  usually  look  one  way  and  row  another." 

"  It  is  my  opinion,  that  his  object  is  to  effect  a  diversion, 


218  THE    TirO   ADMIRALS. 

and  my  wish  is  to  give  it  to  him  to  his  heart's  content.  So 
long  as  this  force  is  kept  near  the  chops  of  the  channel,  it 
can  do  no  harm  in  the  north,  and,  in  so  much,  must  leave 
the  road  to  Germany  open." 

"  For  one,  I  think  it  a  pity — not  to  say  a  disgrace — that 
England  cannot  settle  her  own  quarrels  without  calling  in 
the  aid  of  either  Frenchman  or  Dutchman." 

"  We  must  take  the  world  as  it  is,  Dick,  and  act  like  two 
straightforward  seamen,  without  stopping  to  talk  politics. 
I  take  it  for  granted,  notwithstanding  your  Stuart  fervor, 
that  you  are  willing  enough  to  help  me  thrash  Monsieur 
de  Vervillin." 

"  Beyond  a  question.  Nothing  but  the  conviction  that 
he  was  directly  employed  in  serving  my  natural  and  legiti 
mate  prince  could  induce  me  to  show  him  any  favor.  Still, 
Cakes,  it  is  possible  he  may  have  succors  for  the  Scotch  on 
board,  and  be  bound  to  the  north  by  the  way  of  the  Irish 
channel  !  " 

u  Aye,  pretty  succors,  truly,  for  an  Englishman  to  stom 
ach  !  Mousquetaires  and  regiments  de  Croy,  or  de  Dillon,  or 
some  d d  French  name  or  other  ;  and,  perhaps,  beauti 
ful  muskets  from  the  Bois  de  Vincennes ;  or  some  other 
infernal  nest  of  Gallic  inventions  to  put  down  the  just 
ascendency  of  old  England  !  No,  no,  Dick  Biuewater, 
your  excellent,  loyal,  true-hearted  English  mother  never 
bore  you  to  be  a  dupe  of  Bourbon  perfidy  and  trick.  I 
dare  say  she  sickened  at  the  very  name  of  Louis  !  " 

"  I'll  not  answer  for  that,  Sir  Jarvey,"  returned  the  Rear- 
admiral,  with  a  vacant  smile  ;  "for  she  passed  some  time 
at  the  court  of  Le  Grand  Monarque.  But  all  this  is  idle  ;  we 
know  each  other's  opinions,  and,  by  this  time,  ought  to  know 
each  other's  characters.  Have  you  digested  any  plan  for 
your  future  operations  ;  and  what  part  am  I  to  play  in  it  ? " 

Sir  Gervaise  paced  the  room,  with  hands  folded  behind 
his  back,  in  an  air  of  deep  contemplation,  for  quite  five 
minutes  before  he  answered.  All  this  time,  Biuewater 
remained  watching  his  countenance  and  movements,  in 
anticipation  of  what  was  to  come.  At  length,  the  Vice- 
admiral  appeared  to  have  made  up  his  mind,  and  he  deliv 
ered  himself  of  his  decision  as  follows  : 

"  I  have  reflected  on  them,  Dick,"  he  said,  "  even  while 
my  thoughts  have  seemed  to  be  occupied  with  the  concerns 
of  others.  If  De  Vervillin  is  out,  he  must  still  be  to  the 
eastward  of  us  ;  for,  running  as  the  tides  do  on  the  French 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  219 

coast,  he  can  hardly  have  made  much  westing  with  this 
light  southwest  wind.  We  are  yet  uncertain  of  his  desti 
nation,  and  it  is  all-important  that  we  get  immediate  sight 
of  him,  and  keep  him  in  view,  until  he  can  be  brought  to 
action.  Now,  my  plan  is  this.  I  will  send  out  the  ships 
in  succession,  with  orders  to  keep  on  an  easy  bowline, 
until  each  reaches  the  chops  of  the  channel,  when  she  is 
to  go  about  and  stand  in  toward  the  English  coast.  Each 
succeeding  vessel,  however,  will  weigli  as  soon  as  her  leader 
is  hull  down,  and  keep  within  signal  distance,  in  order  to 
send  intelligence  through  the  whole  line.  Nothing  will  be 
easier  than  to  keep  in  sight  of  each  other,  in  such  fine 
weather  ;  and  by  these  means  we  shall  spread  a  wide  clew 
— quite  a  hundred  miles — and  command  the  whole  of  the 
channel.  As  soon  as  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  is  made,  the 
fleet  can  close,  when  we  will  be  governed  by  circumstances. 
Should  we  see  nothing  of  the  French,  by  the  time  we  make 
their  coast,  we  may  be  certain  they  have  gone  up  channel ; 
and  then,  a  signal  from  the  van  can  reverse  the  order  of 
sailing,  and  we  will  chase  to  the  eastward,  closing  to  a  line 
abreast  as  fast  as  possible." 

"  All  this  is  very  well,  certainly  ;  and  by  means  of  the 
frigates  and  smaller  cruises  we  can  easily  sweep  a  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  of  ocean  ;  nevertheless,  the  fleet  will  be 
much  scattered." 

"  You  do  not  think  there  will  be  any  danger  of  the 
French's  engaging  the  van,  before  the  rear  can  close  to  aid 
it  ? "  asked  Sir  Gervaise,  with  interest,  for  he  had  the  pro- 
foundest  respect  for  his  friend's  professional  opinions.  "  I 
intended  to  lead  out  in  the  Plantagenet,  myself,  and  to 
have  five  or  six  of  the  fastest  ships  next  to  me,  with  a  view 
that  we  might  keep  off,  until  you  could  bring  up  the  rear. 
If  they  chase,  you  know  we  can  retire." 

"  Beyond  a  doubt,  if  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  can  make  up 
his  mind  to  retire,  before  any  Frenchman  who  was  ever 
born,"  returned  Bluewater,  laughing.  "All  this  sounds 
well ;  but,  in  the  event  of  a  meeting,  I  should  expect  to 
find  you,  with  the  whole  van  dismasted,  fighting  your 
hulks  like  bull-dogs,  and  keeping  the  Count  at  bay,  leav 
ing  the  glory  of  covering  your  retreat  to  me." 

"  No,  no,  Dick  ;  I'll  give  you  my  honor  I'll  do  nothing  so 
boyish  and  silly.  I'm  a  different  man  at  fifty-five,  from 
what  I  was  at  twenty-five.  You  may  be  certain  that  I  will 
run,  until  I  think  myself  strong  enough  to  fight." 


220  THE   'TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  Will  you  allow  me  to  make  a  suggestion,  Admiral 
Oakes  ;  and  this  with  all  the  frankness  that  ought  to 
characterize  our  ancient  friendship  ?  " 

Sir  Gervaise  stopped  short  in  his  walk,  looked  Blue- 
water  steadily  in  the  face,  and  nodded  his  head. 

"  I  understand  by  the  expression  of  your  countenance," 
continued  the  other,  "  that  I  am  expected  to  speak.  I  had 
no  more  to  say,  than  to  make  the  simple  suggestion  that 
your  plan  would  be  most  likely  to  be  executed,  were  I  to 
lead  the  van,  and  were  you  to  bring  up  the  rear." 

"The  devil  you  do  !  This  comes  as  near  mutiny — or 
scandalum  magnatum — as  one  can  wish  !  And  why  do  you 
suppose  that  the  plan  of  the  commander-in-chief  will  be 
least  in  danger  of  failing,  if  Admiral  Bluewater  lead  on 
this  occasion,  instead  of  Admiral  Oakes  ? " 

"  Merely  because  I  think  Admiral  Oakes,  when  an  enemy 
is  pressing  him,  is  more  apt  to  take  counsel  of  his  heart 
than  of  his  head  ;  while  Admiral  Bluewater  is  not.  You 
do  not  know  yourself,  Sir  Jarvey,  if  you  think  it  so  easy 
a  matter  to  run  away." 

"  I've  spoiled  you,  Dick,  by  praising  your  foolish  man 
oeuvring  so  much  before  your  face,  and  that's  the  whole 
truth  of  the  matter.  No — my  mind  is  made  up  ;  and  I  be 
lieve  you  know  me  well  enough  to  feel  sure,  when  that  is 
the  case,  even  a  council  of  war  could  not  move  it.  I  lead 
out  in  the  first  two-decked  ship  that  lifts  her  anchor,  and 
you  follow  in  the  last.  You  understand  my  plan,  and  will 
see  it  executed,  as  you  see  everything  executed,  in  the 
face  of  the  enemy." 

Admiral  Bluewater  smiled,  and  not  altogether  without 
irony  in  his  manner  ;  though  he  managed,  at  the  same  time, 
to  get  the  leg  that  had  been  lowest  for  the  last  five  minutes, 
raised  by  an  ingenuity  peculiar  to  himself,  several  inches 
above  its  fellow. 

"  Nature  never  made  you  for  a  conspirator,  Oakes,"  he 
said,  as  soon  as  this  change  was  effected  to  his  mind  ;  "for 
you  carry  atop-light  in  your  breast  that  even  the  blind  can 
see  !  " 

"  What  crotchet  is  uppermost  in  your  mind,  now,  Dick? 
Aren't  the  orders  plain  enough  to  suit  you  ?" 

"  I  confess  it — as  well  as  the  motive  for  giving  them  just 
in  this  form." 

"  Let's  have  it,  at  once.  I  prefer  a  full  broadside  to 
your  minute  guns.  What  is  my  motive  ?" 


THE    TWO 


^ 


"  Simply  that  you,  Sir  Jarvy^sgfto  a,  certain  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  Oakes,  Bart.,  Vice-Admiral  of  the  Red,  and  Member 
for  Bovvldero.  in  your  own  mind,  'Now,  if  I  can  just 
leave  that  fellow,  Dick  Bluewater,  behind  me,  with  four  or 
five  ships,  he'll  never  desert  me,  when  in  front  of  the 
enemy,  whatever  he  might  do  to  King  George  ;  and  so  I'll 
make  sure  of  him  by  placing  the  question  in  such  a  light 
that  it  shall  be  one  of  friendship,  rather  than  one  of  loy 
alty.'" 

Sir  Gervaise  colored  to  the  temples,  for  the  other  had 
penetrated  into  his  most  secret  thoughts  ;  and  yet,  in  spite 
of  his  momentary  vexation,  he  faced  his  accuser,  and  both 
laughed  in  the  heart-felt  manner  that  the  circumstance 
would  be  likely  to  excite. 

"  Harkee,  Dick,"  said  the  Vice-admiral,  as  soon  as  he 
could  command  sufficient  gravity  to  speak  ;  "  they  made  a 
mistake  when  they  sent  you  to  sea;  you  ought  to  have 
been  apprenticed  to  a  conjurer.  I  care  not  what  you  think 
about  it  ;  my  orders  are  given,  and  they  must  be  obeyed. 
Have  you  a  clear  perception  of  the  plan  ? " 

"  One  quite  as  clear,  I  tell  you,  as  I  have  of  the  motive." 

"Enough  of  this,  Bluewater;  we  have  serious  duties 
before  us." 

Sir  Gervaise  now  entered  more  at  length  into  his 
scheme ;  explaining  to  his  friend  all  his  wishes  and  hopes, 
and  letting  him  know,  with  official  minuteness,  what  was 
expected  at  his  hands.  The  Rear-admiral  listened  with 
his  accustomed  respect,  whenever  anything  grave  was  in 
discussion  between  them  ;  and,  had  anyone  entered  while 
they  were  thus  engaged,  he  would  have  seen  in  the  man 
ner  of  one,  nothing  but  the  dignified  frankness  of  a 
friendly  superior,  and  in  the  other,  the  deference  which 
the  naval  inferior  usuallv  pays  to  rank.  As  he  concluded, 
Sir  Gervaise  rang  his  bell,  and  desired  the  presence  of  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe. 

"  I  could  have  wished  to  remain  and  see  this  battle  for 
the  succession  fairly  fought,"  he  said  ;  "  but  a  battle  of  a 
different  sort  calls  us  in  another  quarter.  Show  him  in," 
he  added,  as  his  man  intimated  that  the  young  Baronet 
was  in  waiting. 

"  What  between  the  duties  of  our  professional  stations, 
and  those  of  the  guest  to  the  host,"  said  the  Vice-admiral, 
rising  and  bowing  to  the  young  man,  "  it  is  not  easy  to 
settle  the  question  of  etiquette  between  us,  Sir  Wycherly  ; 


222  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

and  I  have  from  habit,  thought  more  of  the  Admiral  and 
the  Lieutenant,  than  of  the  lord  of  the  manor  and  his 
obliged  guests.  If  I  have  erred,  you  will  excuse  me." 

"'  My  new  situation  is  so  very  novel,  that  I  still  remain 
all  sailor,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  the  other  smiling  ;  "  as 
such  I  hope  you  will  ever  consider  me.  Can  I  be  of  any 
service  here  ? " 

"  One  of  our  cutters  has  just  come  in  with  news  that 
will  take  the  fleet  to  sea  again,  this  morning  ;  or  as  soon 
as  the  tide  begins  to  run  a  strong  ebb.  The  French  are 
out,  and  we  must  go  and  look  for  them.  It  was  my  inten 
tion  and  my  hope  to  be  able  to  take  you  to  sea  with  me 
in  the  Plantagenet  The  date  of  your  commission  would 
not  put  you  very  high  among  her  lieutenants,  but  Bunt 
ing  deserves  a  first  lieutenancy,  and  I  meant  to  give  it  to 
him  this  afternoon,  in  which  case  there  would  be  a  vacancy 
in  the  situation  of  my  own  signal-officer,  a  duty  you  could 
well  perform.  As  it  is,  you  ought  not  to  quit  this  house, 
and  I  must  take  my  leave  of  you  with  regret  it  is  so." 

"  Admiral  Oakes,  what  is  there  that  ought  to  keep  one 
of  my  station  ashore,  on  the  eve  of  a  general  battle  ?  I 
sincerely  hope  and  trust  you  will  alter  the  last  determina 
tion,  and  return  to  the  first." 

"You  forget  your  own  important  interests;  remember 
that  possession  is  nine  points  of  the  law." 

"  We  had  heard  the  news  below,  and  Sir  Reginald,  Mr. 
Furlong,  and  myself,  were  discussing  the  matter  when  I 
received  your  summons.  These  gentlemen  tell  me  that 
possession  can  be  held  by  deputy,  as  well  as  in  person.  I 
am  satisfied  we  can  dispose  of  this  objection." 

''Your  grandfather's  brother,  and  the  late  head  of  your 
family,  lies  dead  in  his  house  ;  it  is  proper  his  successor 
should  be  present  at  his  funeral  obsequies." 

"We  thought  of  that,  also.  Sir  Reginald  has  kindly  of 
fered  to  appear  in  my  place  ;  and  then  there  is  the  chance 
that  the  meeting  with  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  will  take 
place  within  the  next  eight-and-forty  hours ;  whereas,  my 
uncle  cannot  be  interred  certainly  for  a  week  or  ten  days." 

"  I  see  you  have  well  calculated  all  the  chances,  young 
sir,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  smiling.  "  Bluewater,  how  does 
this  matter  strike  you  ?" 

"  Leave  it  in  my  hands,  and  I  will  see  to  it.  You  will 
sail  near  or  quite  twenty-four  hours  before  me,  and  there 
will  be  time  for  more  reflection.  Sir  Wycherly  can  remain 


THE    TirO   ADMIRALS.  223 

with  me  in  the  Caesar,  in  the  action  ;  or  he  can  be  thrown 
aboard  the  Plantagenet  when  we  meet" 

After  a  little  reflection,  Sir  Gervaise,  who  liked  to  give 
every  one  a  fair  chance,  consented  to  the  arrangement, 
and  it  was  decided  that  Wycherly  should  come  out  in  the 
Caesar,  if  nothing  occurred  to  render  the  step  improper. 

This  arrangement  completed,  the  Vice-admiral  declared 
he  was  ready  to  quit  the  Hall.  Galleygo  and  the  other 
servants  had  already  made  the  dispositions  necessary  for 
embarking,  and  it  only  remained  to  take  leave  of  the  in 
mates  of  the  dwelling.  The  parting  between  the  Baronets 
was  friendly  ;  for  the  common  interest  they  felt  in  the  suc 
cess  of  Wycherly,  had,  in  a  degree,  rendered  them  inti 
mates,  and  much  disposed  Sir  Reginald  to  overlook  the 
sailor's  well-known  whiggery.  Button  and  the  ladies  took 
their  departure  at  the  same  time,  and  what  passed  between 
them  and  Sir  Gervaise  on  this  occasion  took  place  on  the 
road  to  the  headland,  whither  all  parties  proceeded  on  foot. 

A  person  so  important  as  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  did  not 
leave  the  roof  that  had  sheltered  him,  to  embark  on  board 
his  own  ship,  without  a  due  escort  to  the  shore.  Blue- 
water  accompanied  him,  in  order  to  discuss  any  little  point 
of  duty  that  might  occur  to  the  mind  of  either,  at  the  last 
moment ;  and  Wycherly  was  of  the  group,  partly  from 
professional  feeling,  and  more  from  a  desire  to  be  near 
Mildred.  Then  there  were  Atwood,  and  the  surgeons,  Mr. 
Rot  her  ham,  and  two  or  three  of  the  cabin  attendants. 
Lord  Geoffrey,  too,  strolled  along  with  the  rest,  though  it 
was  understood  that  his  own  ship  would  not  sail  that  day. 

Just  as  the  party  issued  from  the  gate  of  the  park  into 
the  street  of  the  hamlet,  a  heavy  gun  \vas  fired  from  the 
fleet.  It  was  soon  succeeded  by  others,  and  whiffs  and 
cornets  were  seen  flying  from  the  masthead  that  rose 
above  the  opening  in  the  cliffs,  the  signals  of  recall  for  all 
boats.  This  set  every  one  in  motion,  and  never  within 
the  memory  of  man  had  Wychecombe  presented  such  a 
scene  of  confusion  and  activity.  Half-intoxicated  seamen 
were  driven  down  to  the  boats,  by  youngsters  with  the 
cloth  diamond  in  their  collars,  like  swine,  who  were  re 
luctant  to  go,  arid  yet  afraid  to  stay.  Quarters  of  beeves 
were  trundled  along  in  carts  or  barrows,  and  were  soon 
seen  swinging  at  different  mainstays  ;  while  the  gathering 
of  eggs,  butter,  poultry,  mutton,  lamb,  and  veal,  menaced 
the  surrounding  country  with  a  scarcity. 


224  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

Through  this  throng  of  the  living  and  the  dead,  our 
party  held  its  way,  jostled  by  the  eager  countrymen  and 
respectfully  avoided  by  all  who  belonged  to  the  fleet, 
until  it  reached  the  point  where  the  roads  to  the  cliffs 
and  the  landing  separated,  when  the  Vice-admiral  turned 
to  the  only  midshipman  present,  and  courteously  lifting 
his  hat,  as  if  reluctant  to  impose  such  a  duty  on  a  "young 
gentleman  "  on  liberty,  he  said, 

"  Do  me  the  favor,  Lord  Geoffrey,  to  step  down  to  the 
landing,  and  ascertain  if  my  barge  is  there  ?  The  officer 
of  the  boat  will  find  me  at  the  signal-station." 

The  boy  cheerfully  complied  ;  and  this  son  of  an  Eng 
lish  Duke,  who,  by  the  death  of  an  elder  brother,  became 
in  time  a  Duke  himself,  went  on  a  service,  that  among 
gentlemen  of  the  land  would  be  deemed  nearly  menial, 
with  as  much  alacrity  as  if  he  felt  honored  by  the  request. 
It  was  by  a  training  like  this,  that  England  came  in  time 
to  possess  a  marine  that  has  achieved  so  many  memorable 
deeds  ;  since  it  taught  those  who  were  destined  to  com 
mand,  the  high  and  useful  lesson  how  to  obey. 

While  the  midshipman  was  gone  to  look  for  the  boat, 
the  two  Admirals  walked  the  cliff,  side  by  side,  discussing 
their  future  movements ;  and  when  all  was  ready,  Sir 
Gervaise  descended  to  the  shore,  using  the  very  path  by 
which  he  had  ascended  the  previous  day  ;  and,  pushing 
through  the  throng  that  crowded  the  landing,  almost  too 
much  engaged  to  heed  even  his  approach,  he  entered  his 
barge.  In  another  minute,  the  measured  strokes  of  the 
oars  urged  him  swiftly  toward  the  Plantagenet. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

'Twas  not  without  some  reason,  for  the  wind 

Increased  at  night,  until  it  blew  a  gale  ; 
And  though  'twas  not  much  to  a  naval  mind, 

Some  landsmen  would  have  looked  a  little  pale, 
For  sailors  are,  in  fact,  a  different  kind  ; 

At  sunset  they  began  to  take  in  sail, 
For  the  sky  showed  it  would  come  on  to  blow, 

And  carry  away,  perhaps,  a  mast  or  so. — BYRON. 

As  it  was  just  past  the  turn  of  the  day,  Bluewater  de 
termined  to  linger  on  the  cliffs  for  several  hours,  or  until  it 
was  time  to  think  of  his  dinner.  Abstracted  as  his  thoughts 
were  habitually,  his  mind  found  occupation  and  pleasure 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  225 

in  witnessing  the  evolutions  that  succeeded  among  the 
ships  ;  some  of  which  evolutions  it  may  be  well  now  briefly 
to  relate. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes'  foot  had  not  been  on  the  deck  of  the 
Plantagenet  five  minutes,  before  a  signal  for  all  com 
manders  was  flying  at  that  vessel's  masthead.  In  ten  min 
utes  more  every  captain  of  the  fleet,  with  the  exception  of 
those  belonging  to  the  vessels  in  the  offing,  were  in  the 
flag-ship's  cabin,  listening  to  the  intentions  and  instruc 
tions  of  the  Vice-admiral. 

"  My  plan  of  sailing,  gentlemen,  is  easily  comprehended," 
continued  the  Commander-in-chief,  after  he  had  explained 
his  general  intentions  to  chase  and  engage  ;  "  and  every 
one  of  you  will  implicitly  follow  it.  We  have  the  tide 
strong  at  ebb,  and  a  good  six-knot  breeze  is  coming  up  at 
southwest.  I  shall  weigh,  with  my  yards  square,  and  keep 
them  so,  until  the  ship  has  drawn  out  of  the  fleet,  and  then 
I  shall  luff  up  on  a  taut  bowline  and  on  the  starboard  tack, 
bringing  the  ebb  well  under  my  lee-bowr.  This  will  hawse 
the  ship  over  toward  Morlaix,  and  bring  us  quite  as  far  to 
windward  as  is  desirable.  While  the  ebb  lasts,  and  this 
breeze  stands,  we  shall  have  plain  sailing  ;  the  difficulty 
will  come  on  the  flood,  or  with  a  shift  of  wind.  The  ships 
that  come  out  last  must  be  careful  to  keep  their  seconds, 
ahead  and  astern,  in  plain  sight,  and  regulate  their  move 
ments,  as  much  as  they  can,  by  the  leading  vessels.  The 
object  is  to  spread  as  wide  a  clew  as  possible,  while  we 
hold  the  ships  within  signal  distance  of  each  other.  To 
ward  sunset  I  shall  shorten  sail,  and  the  line  will  close  up 
within  a  league  from  vessel  to  vessel,  and  I  have  told  Blue- 
water  to  use  his  discretion  about  coming  out  with  the  last 
ships,  though  I  have  requested  him  to  hold  on  as  long 
as  he  shall  deem  it  prudent,  in  the  hope  of  receiving 
another  express  from  the  Admiralty.  When  the  flood 
makes,  I  do  not  intend  to  go  about,  but  shall  continue  on 
the  starboard  tack,  and  I  wish  you  all  to  do  the  same. 
This  will  bring  the  leading  vessels  considerably  to  wind 
ward  of  those  astern,  and  may  possibly  throw  the  fleet  into 
a  bow  and  quarter  line.  Being  in  the  van,  it  will  fall  to 
my  duty  to  look  to  this,  and  to  watch  for  the  consequences. 
But  I  ask  of  you  to  keep  an  eye  on  the  weather,  and  hold 
your  ships  within  signal  distance  of  each  other.  If  it  come 
on  thick,  or  to  blow  very  hard,  we  must  close  from  van  to 
rear,  and  try  our  luck,  in  a  search  in  compact  order.  Let 


226  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

the  man  who  first  sees  the  enemy,  make  himself  heard  at 
once,  and  send  the  news,  with  the  bearings  of  the  French, 
both  ahead  and  astern,  as  fast  as  possible.  In  that  case, 
you  will  all  close  on  the  point  from  which  the  intelligence 
comes  ;  and,  mark  me,  no  cruising  to  get  to  windward,  in 
your  own  fashions,  as  if  you  sailed  with  roving  commis 
sions.  You  know  I'll  not  stand  that  !  And  now,  gentle 
men,  it  is  probable  that  we  shall  all  never  meet  again.  God 
bless  you  !  Come  and  shake  hands  with  me,  one  by  one, 
and  then  to  your  boats,  for  the  Lieutenant  has  just  sent 
Greenly  word  that  we  are  up  and  down.  Let  him  trip, 
Greenly,  and  be  off  as  soon  as  we  can." 

The  leave-taking,  a  scene  in  which  joyousness  and  sad 
ness  were  strangely  mingled,  succeeded,  and  then  the  Cap 
tains  disappeared.  From  that  moment  every  mind  was 
bent  on  sailing. 

Although  Bluewater  did  not  witness  the  scene  in  the 
Plantagenet's  cabin,  he  pictured  it,  in  his  mind's  eye,  and 
remained  on  the  cliffs  to  watch  the  succeeding  move 
ments.  As  Wycherly  disappeared  in  the  house,  and  But 
ton  clung  to  his  flag-staff,  the  Rear-admiral  had  no  one 
but  Lord  Geoffrey  for  a  companion.  The  latter,  perceiv 
ing  that  his  relation  did  not  seem  disposed  to  converse, 
had  the  tact  to  be  silent  himself  ;  a  task  that  was  less  diffi 
cult  than  common,  on  account  of  the  interest  he  felt  in  the 
spectacle. 

The  boats  of  the  different  captains  were  still  shoving  off 
from  the  starboard  side  of  the  Plantagenet,  whither  eti 
quette  had  brought  them  together,  in  a  little  crowd,  when 
her  three  topsails  fell,  and  their  sheets  steadily  drew  the 
clews  toward  the  ends  of  the  lower  yards.  Even  while  this 
was  in  progress,  the  yards  began  to  ascend,  and  rose  with 
that  steady  but  graduated  movement  which  marks  the 
operation  in  a  man-of-war.  All  three  were  fairly  mast 
headed  in  two  minutes.  As  the  wind  struck  the  canvas 
obliquely,  the  sails  filled  as  they  opened  their  folds,  and, 
by  the  time  their  surfaces  were  flattened  by  distention,  the 
Plantagenet  steadily  moved  from  her  late  berth,  advancing 
slowly  against  a  strong  tide,  out  of  the  group  of  ships 
among  which  she  had  been  anchored.  This  was  a  beauti 
ful  evolution,  resembling  that  of  a  sea-fowl,  which  lazily 
rises  on  its  element,  spreads  its  wings,  emerges  from 
the  water,  and  glides  away  to  some  distant  and  unseen 
point. 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  21 . 

The  movement  of  the  flag-ship  was  stately,  measured, 
and  grand.  For  five  minutes  she  held  her  way  nearly  duo 
east,  with  the  wind  on  her  starboard  quarter,  meeting  the 
tide  in  a  direct  line  ;  until,  having  drawn  sufficiently  ahead 
of  the  fleet,  she  let  fall  her  courses,  sheeted  home  top-gaL 
lant-sails  and  royals,  set  her  spanker,  jibs,  and  mainsails, 
and  braced  up  sharp  on  a  wind,  with  her  head  at  southx 
southeast.  This  brought  the  tide  under  her  lee-fore, 
chains,  and  set  her  rapidly  off  the  land  and  to  windward. 
As  she  trimmed  her  sails,  and  steadied  her  bowlines,  she 
fired  a  gun,  made  the  numbers  of  the  vessels  in  the  effing 
to  weigh,  and  to  pass  within  hail.  And  this  did  Bluewater 
note,  with  the  attention  of  an  amateur,  as  well  as  the 
critical  analysis  of  a  connoisseur. 

"Very  handsomely  done,  Master  Geoffrey — very  hand 
somely  done,  it  must  be  allowed  !  Never  did  a  bird  quit 
a  flock  with  less  fuss,  or  more  beautifully,  than  the  Plan- 
tagenet  has  drawn  out  of  the  fleet.  It  must  be  admitted 
that  Greenly  knows  how  to  handle  his  ship." 

"  I  fancy  Captain  Stowel  would  have  done  quite  as  well 
with  the  Caesar,  sir,"  answered  the  boy,  with  a  proper 
esprit-de-s/iij>.  "  Don't  you  remember,  Admiral  Bluewater, 
the  time  when  he  got  under  way  off  L'Orient,  with  the 
wind  blowing  a  gale  directly  on  shore  ?  Even  Sir  Gervaise 
said,  afterward,  that  we  lost  less  ground  than  any  ship  in 
the  fleet,  and  yet  the  Plantagenet  is  the  most  weatherly 
two-decker  in  the  navy  ;  as  every-body  says." 

"  Every-body  !  She  is  certainly  a  weatherly  vessel,  but 
not  more  so  than  several  others.  Whom  did  you  ever  hear 
give  that  character  to  this  particular  ship  ?" 

"Why,  sir,  her  reefers  are  always  bragging  as  much  as 
that ;  and  a  great  deal  more,  too." 

"  Her  reefers  !  Young  gentlemen  are  particularly 
struck  with  the  charms  of  their  first  loves,  both  ashore  and 
afloat,  my  boy.  Did  you  ever  hear  an  old  seaman  say  that 
much  for  the  Plantagenet?" 

"  I  think  I  have,  sir,"  returned  Lord  Geoffrey,  blushing. 
"Galleygo,  Sir  Gervaise's  steward,  is  commonly  repeating 
some  such  stuff,  or  other.  They  are  furious  braggarts,  the 
Plantagenets,  all  round,  sir." 

"That  comes  honestly,"  answered  Bluewater,  smiling, 
"her  namesakes  and  predecessors  of  old  having  some  such 
characteristic,  too.  Look  at  that  ship's  yards,  boy,  and 


228  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

learn  how  to  trim  a  vessel's  sails  on  a  wind.  The  pencil  of 
a  painter  could  not  draw  lines  more  accurate  !  " 

"  Captain  Stowel  tells  us,  sir,  that  the  yards  ought  not 
to  be  braced  in  exactly  alike  ;  but  that  we  ought  to  check 
the  weather-braces  a  little,  as  we  go  aloft,  so  that  the  top 
sail  yard  should  point  a  little  less  forward  than  the  lower 
yard,  and  the  top-gallant  than  the  topsail." 

"  You  are  quite  right  in  taking  Stowel's  opinion  in  all 
such  matters,  Geoffrey  ;  but  has  not  Captain  Greenly  done 
the  same  thing  in  the  Plantagenet  ?  When  I  speak  of 
symmetry,  I  mean  the  symmetry  of  a  seaman." 

The  boy  was  silenced,  though  exceedingly  reluctant  to 
admit  that  any  ship  could  equal  his  own.  In  the  mean 
time,  there  was  every  appearance  of  a  change  in  the 
weather.  Just  about  the  time  the  Plantagenet  braced  up, 
the  wind  freshened,  and  in  ten  minutes  it  blew  a  stiff 
breeze.  Some  time  before  the  Admiral  spoke  the  vessels 
outside,  he  was  compelled  to  take  in  all  his  light  canvas  ; 
and  when  he  filled  again,  after  giving  his  orders  to  the 
frigate  and  sloop,  the  topgallant  sheets  were  let  fly,  a  sin 
gle  reef  was  taken  in  the  topsails,  and  the  lighter  sails  were 
set  over  them.  This  change  in  the  weather,  more  espe 
cially  as  the  night  threatened  to  be  clouded,  if  not  abso 
lutely  dark,  would  necessarily  bring  about  a  corresponding 
change  in  the  plan  of  sailing,  reducing  the  intervals  be 
tween  the  departures  of  the  vessels  quite  one-half.  To 
such  vicissitudes  are  all  maritime  operations  liable,  and  it 
is  fortunate  when  there  is  sufficient  capacity  in  the  leaders 
to  remedy  them. 

In  less  than  an  hour,  the  Plantagenet's  hull  began  to 
sink,  to  those  on  a  level  with  it,  when  the  Carnatic  tripped 
her  anchor,  opened  her  canvas,  shot  out  of  the  fleet,  hauled 
by  the  wind,  and  followed  in  the  Admiral's  wake.  So  ac 
curate  was  the  course  she  steered,  that,  half  an  hour  after 
she  had  braced  up,  a  hawse-bucket,  which  had  been 
dropped  from  the  Plantagenet  in  hauling  water,  was  picked 
up.  We  may  add,  here,  though  it  will  be  a  little  anticipat 
ing  events,  that  the  Thunderer  followed  the  Carnatic  ; 
the  Blenheim  the  Thunderer  ;  the  Achilles  the  Blenheim  ; 
the  Warspite  the  Achilles  ;  the  Dover  the  Warspite  ;  the 
York  the  Dover  ;  the  Elizabeth  the  York  ;  the  Dublin  the 
Elizabeth  ;  and  the  Caesar  the  Dublin.  But  hours  passed 
before  all  these  ships  were  in  motion,  and  hours  in  which 
we  shall  have  some  occurrences  to  relate  that  took  place 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  229 

on  shore.  Still  it  will  aid  the  reader  in  better  understand 
ing  the  future  incidents  of  our  tale,  if  we  describe,  at  once, 
some  of  the  circumstances  under  which  all  these  ships  got 
in  motion. 

By  the  time  the  Plantagenet's  topsails  were  beginning 
to  dip  from  the  cliffs,  the  Carnatic,  the  Thunderer,  the 
Blenheim,  the  Achilles,  and  the  Warspite  were  all  stretch 
ing  out  in  line,  with  intervals  of  quite  two  leagues  between 
them,  under  as  much  canvas  as  they  could  now  bear.  The 
Admiral  had  shortened  sail  the  most,  and  was  evidently 
allowing  the  Carnatic  to  close,  most  probably  on  account 
of  the  threatening  look  of  the  sky,  to  windward  ;  while  he 
was  suffering  the  frigate  and  sloop,  the  Chloe  and  Driver, 
to  pass  ahead  of  him,  the  one  on  his  weather,  and  the  other 
on  his  lee  bow.  When  the  Dover  weighed,  the  Admiral's 
upper  sail  was  not  visible  from  her  tops,  though  the  War- 
spite's  hull  had  not  yet  disappeared  from  her  deck.  She 
left  the  fleet,  or  the  portions  of  it  that  still  remained  at 
anchor,  with  her  fore-course  set,  and  hauled  by  the  wind, 
under  double-reefed  topsails,  a  single  reef  in  her  mainsail, 
and  with  her  maintop-gallant  sail  set  over  its  proper  sail. 
With  this  reduced  canvas,  she  started  away  on  the  track  of 
her  consorts,  the  brine  foaming  under  her  bows,  and  with 
a  heel  that  denoted  the  heavy  pressure  that  bore  on  her 
sails.  By  this  time,  the  York  was  aweight,  the  tide  had 
turned,  and  it  became  necessary  to  fill  on  the  other  tack 
in  order  to  clear  the  land  to  the  eastward.  This  altered 
the  formation,  but  we  will  now  revert  to  the  events  as  they 
transpired  on  the  shore,  with  a  view  to  relate  them  more 
in  their  regular  order. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  Bluewater  must  have 
remained  on  or  about  the  cliffs  several  hours,  in  order  to 
witness  the  departure  of  so  many  of  the  vessels.  Instead 
of  returning  to  the  Hall  at  the  dinner  hour,  agreeably  to 
promise,  he  profited  by  the  appearance  of  Wycherly,  who 
left  the  cottage  with  a  flushed,  agitated  manner,  just  as  he 
was  thinking  of  the  necessity  of  sending  a  message  to  Sir 
Reginald,  and  begged  the  young  man  to  be  the  bearer  of 
his  excuses.  He  thought  that  the  change  in  the  weather 
rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  remain  in  sight  of  the  sea. 
Dutton  overheard  this  message,  and,  after  a  private  con 
ference  with  his  wife,  he  ventured  to  invite  his  superior  to 
appease  his  appetite  under  his  own  humble  roof.  To  this 
Bluewater  cheerfully  assented  ;  and  when  the  summons 


Z3o  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

came  to  the  table,  to  his  great  joy  he  found  that  his  only 
companion  was  to  be  Mildred,  who,  like  himself,  for  some 
reason  known  only  to  her  own  bosom,  had  let  the  ordina 
ry  dining  hour  pass  without  appearing  at  table,  but  whom 
her  mother  had  now  directed  to  take  some  sustenance. 

11  The  late  events  at  the  Hall  have  agitated  the  poor 
child,  sir,"  said  Mrs.  Button,  in  the  way  of  apology,  "and 
she  has  not  tasted  food  since  morning.  I  have  told  her 
you  would  excuse  the  intrusion,  and  receive  her  carving 
and  attentions  as  an  excuse  for  her  company." 

Bluewater  looked  at  the  pallid  countenance  of  the  girl, 
and  never  before  had  he  found  the  resemblance  to  Agnes 
Hedworth  so  strong,  as  that  moment.  The  last  year  or 
two  of  his  own  sweet  friend's  life  had  been  far  from  happy, 
and  the  languid  look  and  tearful  eyes  of  Mildred  revived 
the  recollection  of  the  dead  with  painful  distinctness. 

"  Good  God  !  "  he  murmured  to  himself  ;  "  that  two  such 
beings  should  exist  only  to  suffer!  my  good  Mrs.  Button, 
make  no  excuses  ;  but  believe  me  when  I  say  that  you 
could  not  have  found  in  England  another  that  would  have 
proved  as  welcome  as  my  present  little  messmate." 

Mildred  struggled  for  a  smile  ;  and  she  did  succeed  in 
looking  extremely  grateful.  Beyond  this,  however,  it  ex 
ceeded  her  powers  to  go.  Mrs.  Button  was  gratified,  and 
soon  left  the  two  to  partake  of  their  neat,  but  simple  meal, 
by  themselves  ;  household  duties  requiring  her  presence 
elsewhere. 

"  Let  me  persuade  you  to  take  a  glass  of  this  really  ex 
cellent  port,  my  child,"  said  Bluewater.  "  If  you  had 
cruised  as  long  as  I  have  done,  on  the  coast  of  Portugal, 
you  would  know  how  to  value  a  liquor  as  pure  as  this.  I 
don't  know  of  an  admiral  that  lias  as  good  !" 

"  It  is  probably  our  last,  sir,"  answered  Mildred,  shak 
ing  a  tear  from  each  of  her  long  dark  lashes,  by  an  invol 
untary  trembling  motion,  as  she  spoke.  "  It  was  a  present 
from  dear,  old  Sir  Wycherly,  who  never  left  my  mother 
wholly  unsupplied  with  such  plai?i  delicacies  as  he  fancied 
poverty  placed  beyond  our  reach.  The  wine  we  can  easily 
forget  ;  not  so  easily  the  donor." 

Bluewater  felt  as  if  he  could  draw  a  check  for  one-half 
the  fortune  he  had  devised  to  his  companion  ;  and  yet,  by 
a  caprice  of  feeling  that  is  not  uncommon  to  persons  of  the 
liveliest  susceptibility,  he  answered  in  a  way  to  smother 
his  own  emotion. 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  231 

"There  will  not  soon  be  another  old  Sir  Wycherly  to 
make  his  neighbors  comfortable  ;  but  there  is  a  young 
one,  who  is  not  likely  to  forget  his  uncle's  good  example. 
I  hope  you  all,  here,  rejoice  at  the  sudden  rise  in  fortune 
that  has  so  unexpectedly  been  placed  within  the  reach  of 
our  favorite  Lieutenant  ?  " 

A  look  of  anguish  passed  over  Mildred's  face,  and  her 
companion  noted  it  ;  though  surprise  and  pity — not.  to  say 
resentment — prevented  his  betraying  his  discovery. 

"We  endeavor  to  be  glad,  sir,"  answered  Mildred,  smil 
ing  in  so  suffering  a  manner,  as  to  awaken  all  her  compan 
ion's  sympathies  ;  "but  it  is  not  easy  for  us  to  rejoice  at 
any  thing  which  is  gained  by  the  loss  of  our  former  valued 
friend." 

"  I  am  aware  that  a  young  fellow,  like  the  present  Sir 
Wycherly,  can  be  no  substitute  for  an  old  fellow  like  the 
last  Sir  Wycherly,  my  dear  ;  but  as  one  is  a  sailor,  and  the 
other  was  only  a  landsman,  my  professional  prejudices  may 
not  consider  the  disparity  as  great  as  it  may  possibly  ap 
pear  to  be  to  your  less  partial  judgment." 

Bluewater  thought  the  glance  he  received  was  imploring, 
and  he  instantly  regretted  that  he  had  taken  such  means 
to  divert  his  companion's  sadness.  Some  consciousness  of 
this  regret  probably  passed  through  Mildred's  mind,  for 
she  rallied  her  spirits  and  made  a  partially  successful  effort 
to  be  a  more  agreeable  companion. 

"My  father  thinks,  sir,"  she  said,  "that  our  late  pleas 
ant  weather  is  about  to  desert  us,  and  that  it  is  likely  to 
blow  heavily  before  six-and-thirty  hours  are  over." 

"  I  am  afraid  Mr.  Button  will  prove  to  be  too  accurate 
an  almanac.  The  weather  has  a  breeding  look,  and  I  ex 
pect  a  dirty  night.  Good  or  bad,  we  seamen  must  face  it, 
and  that,  too,  in  the  narrow  seas,  where  gales  of  wind  are 
no  gales  of  Araby." 

"  Ah,  sir,  it  is  a  terrible  life  to  lead  !  By  living  on  this 
cliff,  I  have  learned  to  pity  the  sailor." 

"  Perhaps,  my  child,  you  pity  us  when  we  are  the  most 
happy.  Nine  seamen  in  ten  prefer  a  respectable  gale  to  a 
flat  calm.  There  are  moments  when  the  ocean  is  terrific  ; 
but,  on  the  whole,  it  is  capricious,  rather  than  malignant. 
The  night  that  is  before  us  promises  to  be  just  such  a  one 
as  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  delights  in.  He  is  never  happier 
than  when  he  hears  a  gale  howling  through  the  cordage  of 
his  ship." 


232  THE    7'Jt'O   ADMIRALS. 

"  I  have  heard  him  spoken  of  as  a  .very  daring  and  self- 
relying  commander.  But  you  cannot  entertain  such  feel 
ings,  Admiral  Bluewater  ;  for  to  me  you  seem  better  fitted 
for  a  fireside,  well  filled  with  friends  and  relatives,  than  foi 
the  conflicts  and  hardships  of  the  sea." 

Mildred  had  no  difficulty  now  in  forcing  a  smile,  for  the 
sweet  one  she  bestowed  on  the  veteran  almost  tempted  him 
to  rise  and  fold  her  in  his  arms,  as  a  parent  would  wrap  a 
beloved  daughter  to  his  heart.  Discretion,  however,  pre 
vented  a  betrayal  of  feelings  that  might  have  been  misin 
terpreted,  and  he  answered  in  his  original  vein. 

"  I  fear  I  am  a  wolf  in  sheep's  clothing,"  he  said  ;  "while 
Oakes  admits  the  happiness  he  feels  in  seeing  his  ship 
plowing  through  a  raging  sea,  in  a  dark  night,  he  main 
tains  that  my  rapture  is  sought  in  a  hurricane.  I  do  not 
plead  guilty  to  the  accusation,  but  I  will  allow  there  is  a 
sort  of  fierce  delight  in  participating,  as  it  might  be,  in  a 
wild  strife  of  the  elements.  To  me,  my  very  nature  seems 
changed  at  such  moments,  and  I  forget  all  that  is  mild  and 
gentle.  That  comes  of  having  lived  so  much  estranged 
from  your  sex,  my  dear  ;  desolate  bachelor,  as  I  am." 

"  Do  you  think  sailors  ought  to  marry  ?  "  asked  Mildred, 
with  a  steadiness  that  surprised  herself  ;  for,  while  she  put 
the  question,  consciousness  brought  the  blood  toher  tem 
ples. 

"  I  should  be  sorry  to  condemn  a  whole  profession,  and 
that  one  I  so  well  love,  to  the  hopeless  misery  of  single 
life.  There  are  miseries  peculiar  to  the  wedded  lives  of 
both  soldiers  and  sailors  ;  but  are  there  not  miseries  pecu 
liar  to  those  who  never  separate  ?  I  have  heard  seamen 
say — men,  too,  who  loved  their  wives  and  families — that 
they  believed  the  extreme  pleasure  of  meetings  after  long 
separations,  the  delights  of  hope,  and  the  zest  of  excited 
feelings  have  rendered  their  years  of  active  service  more 
replete  with  agreeable  sensations,  than  the  stagnant  periods 
of  peace.  Never  having  been  married  myself,  I  can  only 
speak  on  report." 

"  Ah  !  this  may  be  so  with  men  ;  but  surely,  surely  wo 
men  never  can  feel  thus  !" 

"  I  suppose,  a  sailor's  daughter  yourself,  you  know  Jack's 
account  of  his  wife's  domestic  creed  !  '  A  good  fire,  a  clean 
hearth,  the  children  abed,  and  the  husband  at  sea,'  is  sup 
posed  to  be  the  climax  of  felicity." 

"  This  may  do  for  the  sailor's  jokes,  Admiral  Bluewater," 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  233 

answered  Mildred,  smiling;  "but  it  will  hardly  ease  a 
breaking  heart.  I  fear  from  all  I  have  heard  this  after 
noon,  and  from  the  sudden  sailing  of  the  ships,  that  a  great 
battle  is  at  hand." 

"And  why  should  you,  a  British  officer's  daughter, 
dread  that  ?  Have  you  so  little  faith  in  us  as  to  suppose 
a  battle  will  necessarily  bring  defeat !  I  have  seen  much  of 
my  own  profession,  Miss  Button,  and  trust  1  am  in  some 
small  degree  above  the  rhodomontade  of  the  braggarts  ; 
but  it  is  not  usual  for  us  to  meet  the  enemy,  and  to  give 
those  on  shore  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  the  English  flag. 
It  has  never  yet  been  my  luck  to  meet  a  Frenchman  who 
did  not  manifest  a  manly  desire  to  do  his  country  credit ; 
and  I  have  always  felt  that  we  must  fight  hard  for  him 
before  we  could  get  him  ;  nor  has  the  result  ever  disap 
pointed  me.  Still,  fortune  or  skill,  or  right  is  commonly 
on  our  side,  and  has  given  us  the  advantage  in  the 
end." 

"  And  to  which,  sir,  do  you  ascribe  a  success  at  sea,  so 
very  uniform  ?" 

"As  a  Protestant,  I  ought  to  say  to  our  religion  ;  but  this 
my  own  knowledge  of  Protestant  vices  rejects.  Then  to  say 
fortune  would  be  an  exceeding  self-abasement — one,  that 
between  us,  is  not  needed — and  I  believe  I  must  impute  it 
to  skill.  As  plain  seamen,  I  do  believe  we  are  more  ex 
pert  than  most  of  our  neighbors  ;  though  I  am  far  from 
being  positive  we  have  any  great  advantage  over  them  in 
tactics.  If  any,  the  Dutch  are  our  equals." 

"Notwithstanding,  you  are  quite  certain  of  success.  It 
must  be  a  great  encouragement  to  enter  into  the  fight  with 
a  strong  confidence  in  victory  !  I  suppose — that  is,  it 
seems  to  me — it  is  a  matter  of  course,  sir — that  our  new 
Sir  Wycherly  will  not  be  able  to  join  in  the  battle,  this 
time  ?" 

Mildred  spoke  timidly,  and  she  endeavored  to  seem  un 
concerned  ;  but  Bluewater  read  her  whole  heart,  and  pitied 
the  pain  which  she  had  inflicted  on  herself,  in  asking  the 
question.  It  struck  him,  too,  that  a  girl  of  his  compan 
ion's  delicacy  and  sensibility  would  not  thus  advert  to  the 
young  man's  movements  at  all,  if  the  latter  had  done  ought 
justly  to  awaken  censure  :  and  this  conviction  greatly  re 
lieved  his  mind  as  to  the  effect  of  sudden  elevation  on  the 
handsome  Lieutenant.  As  it  was  necessary  to  answer, 
however,  lest  Mildred  might  detect  his  consciousness  of 


234  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

her  feelings,  not  a  moment  was  lost  before  making  a 
reply. 

"  It  is  not  an  easy  matter  to  prevent  a  young,  dashing 
sailor,  like  this  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe  from  doing  his 
part  in  a  general  engagement,  and  that,  too,  of  the  char 
acter  of  the  one  to  which  we  are  looking  forward,"  he  said. 
"Oakes  has  left  the  matter  in  my  hands  ;  I  suppose  I  shall 
have  to  grant  the  young  man's  request." 

"  He  has  then  requested  to  be  received  in  your  ship?" 
asked  Mildred,  her  hand  shaking  as  she  used  the  spoon  it 
held. 

"  That  of  course.  No  one  who  wears  the  uniform  could 
or  would  do  less.  It  seems  a  ticklish  moment  for  him  to 
quit  Wychecombe,  too  ;  where  I  fancy  he  will  have  a  battle 
of  his  own  to  fight  ere  long  ;  but  professional  feeling  will 
overshadow  all  others,  in  young  men.  Among  us  seamen, 
it  is  said  to  be  even  stronger  than  love." 

Mildred  made  no  answer  ;  but  her  pale  cheek  and  quiv 
ering  lips,  evidences  of  feeling  that  her  artlessness  did 
not  enable  her  to  conceal,  caused  Bluewater  again  to  regret 
the  remark.  With  a  view  to  restore  the  poor  girl  to  her 
self-command,  he  changed  the  subject  of  conversation, 
which  did  not  again  advert  to  Wycherly. 

The  remainder  of  the  meal  was  consequently  eaten  in 
peace,  the  Admiral  manifesting  to  the  last,  however,  the 
sudden  and  generous  interest  he  had  taken  in  the  character 
and  welfare  of  his  companion.  When  they  rose  from 
table,  Mildred  joined  her  mother,  and  Bluewater  walked 
out  upon  the  cliffs  again. 

It  was  now  evening,  and  the  waste  of  water  that  lay 
stretched  before  the  eye,  though  the  softness  of  summer 
was  shed  upon  it, had  the  wild  and  dreary  aspect  that  the 
winds  and  waves  lend  to  a  view,  as  the  light  of  day  is  about 
to  abandon  the  ocean  to  the  gloom  of  night.  All  this  had 
no  effect  on  Bluewater,  however,  who  knew  that  two- 
decked  ships,  strongly  manned,  with  their  heavy  canvas 
reduced,  would  make  light  work  of  worrying  through 
hours  of  darkness  that  menaced  no  more  than  these.  Still 
the  wind  had  freshened,  and  when  he  stood  on  the  verge 
of  the  cliff,  sustained  by  the  breeze  which  pressed  him 
back  from  the  precipice,  rendering  his  head  more  steady 
and  his  footing  sure,  the  Elizabeth  was  casting,  under 
close-reefed  topsails,  and  two  reefs  in  their  courses,  with  a 
heavy  staysail  or  two,  to  raise  her  helm.  He  saw  that  the 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  235 

ponderous  machine  would  stagger  under  even  this  short 
canvas,  and  that  her  captain  had  made  his  dispositions  for 
a  windy  night.  The  lights  that  the  Dover  and  the  York 
carried  in  their  tops  were  just  beginning  to  be  visible  in 
the  gathering  gloom,  the  last  about  a  league  and  a  half 
down  channel,  the  ship  standing  in  that  direction  to  get  to 
windward,  and  the  former  more  to  the  southward,  the  ves 
sel  having  already  tacked  to  follow  the  Admiral.  A  chain 
of  lights  connected  the  whole  of  the  long  line,  and  placed 
the  means  of  communication  in  the  power  of  the  cap 
tains.  At  this  moment,  the  Plantagenet  was  fully  fifty 
miles  at  sea,  plowing  through  a  heavy  southwest  swell, 
which  the  wind  was  driving  into  the  chops  of  the  channel, 
from  the  direction  of  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  and  the  broad 
.Atlantic. 

Bluewater  buttoned  his  coat  and  he  felt  his  frame  invig 
orated  by  a  gale  that  came  over  his  person,  loaded  by  the 
peculiar  flavor  of  the  sea.  But  two  of  the  heavy  ships  re 
mained  at  their  anchors,  the  Dublin  and  the  Caesar  ;  and 
his  experienced  eye  could  see  that  Stowel  had  everything 
on  board  the  latter  ready  to  trip  and  be  off,  as  soon  as  he, 
himself,  should  give  the  order.  At  this  moment,  the  mid 
shipman,  who  had  been  absent  for  hours,  returned  and 
stood  again  at  his  side. 

"  Our  turn  will  soon  come,  sir,"  said  the  gallant  boy, 
"and  for  one  I  shall  not  be  sorry  to  be  in  motion.  Those 
chaps  on  board  the  Plantagenet  will  swagger  like  so  many 
Dons,  if  they  should  happen  to  get  a  broadside  at  Monsieur 
de  Vervillin,  while  we  are  lying  here,  under  the  shore, 
like  a  gentleman's  yacht  hauled  into  a  bay,  that  the  ladies 
might  eat  without  disturbing  their  stomachs." 

"  Little  fear  of  that,  Geoffrey.  The  Active  is  too  light 
of  foot,  especially  in  the  weather  we  have  had,  to  suffer 
heavy  ships  to  be  so  close  on  her  heels.  She  must  have 
had  some  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  the  start,  and  the  French 
have  been  compelled  to  double  Cape  la  Hogue  and  Alder- 
ney,  before  they  could  even  look  this  way.  If  coming  down 
channel  at  all,  they  are  fully  fifty  miles  to  the  eastward  ; 
and  should  our  van  stretch  far  enough  by  morning  to  head 
them  off,  it  will  bring  us  handsomely  to  the  windward. 
Sir  Gervaise  never  set  a  better  trap  than  he  has  done  this 
very  day.  The  Elizabeth  has  her  hands  full,  boy,  and  the 
wind  seems  to  be  getting  scant  for  her.  If  it  knock  her  off 
much  more,  it  will  bring  the  flood  on  her  weather-bow,  and 


236  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

compel  her  to  tack.  This  will  throw  the  rear  of  our  line 
into  confusion  !  " 

"What  should  we  do  sir,  in  such  a  case?  It  would 
never  answer  to  leave  poor  Sir  Jarvey  out  there,  by  him 
self  ! " 

"  We  would  try  not  to  do  that ! "  returned  Bluewater, 
smiling  at  the  affectionate  solicitude  of  the  lad,  a  solicitude 
that  caused  him  slightly  to  forget  his  habitual  respect  for 
the  commander  in-chief,  and  to  adopt  the  sobriquet  of  the 
fleet.  "In  such  a  case,  it  would  become  my  duty  to  col 
lect  as  many  ships  as  I  could,  and  to  make  the  best  of  our 
way  toward  the  place  where  we  might  hope  to  fall  in  with 
the  others,  in  the  morning.  There  is  little  danger  of  losing 
each  other,  for  any  length  of  time,  in  these  narrow  waters, 
and  I  have  few  apprehensions  of  the  French  being  far 
enough  west  to  fall  in  with  our  leading  vessels  before 
morning.  If  they  should,  indeed,  Geoffrey — 

"Ay,  sir,  if  they  should,  I  know  well  enough  what  would 
come  to  pass  !  " 

"What,  boy?  On  the  supposition  that  Monsieur  de 
Vervillin  did  meet  with  Sir  Gervaise  by  daybreak,  what, 
in  your  experienced  eyes,  seem  most  likely  to  be  the  con 
sequences?" 

"  Why,  sir,  Sir  Jarvey  would  go  at  'em  like  a  dolphin  at  a 
flying  fish  ;  and  if  he  should  really  happen  to  catch  one  or 
two  of  'em,  there'd  be  no  sailing  in  company  with  the 
Plantagenets,  for  us  Caesars  !  When  we  had  the  last  bout 
with  Monsieur  de  Gravelin,  they  were  as  saucy  as  pea 
cocks,  because  we  didn't  close  until  their  fore-yard  and 
mizzen-top-gallant-mast  were  gone,  although  the  shift  of 
wind  brought  us  dead  to  leeward,  and  after  all,  we  had 
eleven  men  the  most  hurt  in  the  fight.  You  don't  know 
them  Plantagenets,  sir  ;  for  they  never  dare  say  anything 
before  you  ! " 

"  Not  to  the  discredit  of  my  young  Caesars,  I'll  answer 
for  it.  Yet,  you'll  remember  Sir  Gervaise  gave  us  full 
credit,  in  his  dispatches." 

"  Yes,  sir,  all  very  true.  Sir  Gervaise  knows  better  ;  and 
then  he  understands  what  the  Caesar  is,  and  \vhat  she  can 
do  and  has  done.  But  it's  a  very  different  matter  with  the 
youngsters,  who  fancy  because  they  carry  a  red  flag  at  the 
fore,  they  are  so  many  Blakes  and  Howards  themselves. 
There's  Jack  Oldcastle,  now  ;  he's  always  talking  of  our 
reefers  as  if  there  was  no  seablood  in  our  veins,  and  that 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  237 

just  because  his  own  father  happened  to  be  a  captain — a 
commodore,  he  says,  because  he  happened  once  to  have 
three  frigates  under  his  orders." 

"  Well,  that  would  make  a  commodore,  for  the  time 
being.  But  surely  he  does  not  claim  privilege  for  the 
Oldcastle  blood,  over  that  of  the  Clevelands  !  " 

"  Xo,  sir  ;  it  isn't  that  sort  of  thing,  at  all,"  returned  the 
fine  boy,  blushing  a  little,  in  spite  of  his  contempt  for  any 
such  womanly  weakness  ;  "  you  know  we  never  talk  of  that 
nonsense  in  our  squadron.  With  us  it's  all  service,  and 
that  sort  of  thing.  Jack  Oldcastle  says  the  Clevelands  are 
all  civilians,  as  he  calls  'em  ;  or  soldiers,  which  isn't  much 
better,  as  you  know.  Now,  I  tell  him  that  there  is  an  old 
picture  of  one  of  them,  with  an  anchor-button,  and  that 
was  long  before  Queen  Anne's  time — Queen  Elizabeth's, 
perhaps,  and  then  you  know,  sir,  I  fetch  him  up  with  a 
yarn  about  the  Hedworths  ;  for  I  am  just  as  much  Hed- 
worth  as  Cleveland." 

"And  what  does  the  impudent  dog  say  to  that,  Geof 
frey  ? " 

44  Why,  sir,  he  says  the  name  should  be  spelled  Head- 
work,  and  that  they  were  all  lawyers.  But  I  gave  him  as 
good  as  he  sent  for  that  saucy  speech,  I'm  certain." 

''And  what  did  you  give  him  in  return  for  such  a  com 
pliment  ?  Did  vow  tell  him  the  Oldcastles  were  just  so 
much  stone,  and  wood,  and  old  iron,  and  that,  too,  in  a 
tumbledown  condition  ?" 

"Xo,  sir,  not  I,"  answered  the  boy,  laughing;  "I 
didn't  think  of  any  answer  half  so  clever  ;  and  so  I  just 
gave  him  a  dig  in  the  nose,  and  that,  laid  on  with  right 
good  will." 

"And  how  did  he  receive  that  argument  ?  Was  it  con 
clusive — or  did  the  debate  continue  ?" 

"O,  of  course,  sir,  we  fought  it  out.  'Twas  on  board 
the  Dover,  and  the  first  lieutenant  saw  fair  play.  Jack 
carried  too  many  guns  for  me,  sir,  for  he's  more  than  a 
year  older  ;  but'l  hulled  him  so  often  that  he  owned  it  was 
harder  work  than  being  mastheaded.  After  that  the  Do 
ver's  chaps  took  my  part,  and  they  said  the  Hedworths 
had  no  Head--awr/&  at  all,  but  they  were  regular  sailors  ; 
admirals,  captains,  and  youngsters,  you  know,  sir,  like  the 
rest  of  us.  I  told  'em  my  grandfather  Hedworth  was  an 
admiral,  and  a  good  one,  too." 

"In  that  you  make   a  small   mistake.     Your  mother's 


238  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

father  was  only  a  general ;  but  his  father  was  a  full  admi 
ral  of  the  red — for  he  lived  before  that  grade  was  abolished 
— and  as  good  an  officer  as  ever  trod  a  plank.  He  was  my 
mother's  brother,  and  both  Sir  Gervaise  and  myself  served 
long  under  his  orders.  He  was  a  sailor  of  whom  you  well 
might  boast." 

"  I  don't  think  any  of  the  Plantagenets  will  chase  in  that 
quarter  again,  sir  ;  for  we've  had  an  overhauling  among 
our  chaps,  and  we  find  we  can  muster  four  admirals,  two 
commodores,  and  thirteen  captains  in  our  two  messes; 
that  is,  counting  all  sorts  of  relatives,  you  know,  sir." 

"Well,  my  dear  boy,  I  hope  you  may  live  to  reckon  all 
that  and  more,  too,  in  your  own  persons,  at  some  future 
day.  Yonder  is  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,  coming  this 
way,  to  my  surprise  ;  perhaps  he  wishes  to  see  me  alone. 
Go  down  to  the  landing  and  ascertain  if  my  barge  is  ashore, 
and  let  me  know  it,  as  soon  as  is  convenient.  Remember, 
Geoffrey,  you  will  go  off  with  me ;  and  hunt  up  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe,  who  will  lose  his  passage,  un 
less  ready  the  instant  he  is  wanted." 

The  boy  touched  his  cap,  and  went  bounding  down  the 
hill  to  execute  the  order. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

So  glozed  the  Tempter,  and  his  poison  tuned  ; 
Into  the  heart  of  Eve  his  words  made  way, 
Though  at  the  voice  much  marvelling. — MILTON. 

IT  was,  probably,  a  species  of  presentiment  that  induced 
Bluewater  to  send  away  the  midshipman,  when  he  saw  the 
adherent  of  the  dethroned  house  approaching.  Enough 
had  passed  between  the  parties  to  satisfy  each  of  the  se 
cret  bias  of  the  other ;  and,  by  that  sort  of  freemasonry 
which  generally  accompanies  strong  feelings  of  partisan 
ship,  the  Admiral  felt  persuaded  that  the  approaching  in 
terview  was  about  to  relate  to  the  political  troubles  of  the 
day. 

The  season  and  the  hour,  and  the  spot,  too,  were  all  po 
etically  favorable  to  an  interview  between  conspirators.  It 
was  now  nearly  dark  ;  the  headland  was  deserted,  Button 
having  retired,  first  to  his  bottle,  and  then  to  his  bed  ;  the 
wind  blew  heavily  athwart  the  bleak  eminence,  or  was 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  239 

heard  scuffling  in  the  caverns  of  the  cliffs,  while  the  por 
tentous  clouds  that  drove  through  the  air  now  veiled  en 
tirely,  and  now  partially  and  dimly  revealed  the  light  of 
the  moon,  in  a  way  to  render  the  scene  both  exciting  and 
wild.  No  wonder,  then,  that  Bluewater,  his  visitor  draw 
ing  near,  felt  a  stronger  disposition  than  had  ever  yet  come 
over  him  to  listen  to  the  tale  of  the  tempter,  as,  under  all 
the  circumstances,  it  would  scarcely  exceed  the  bounds  of 
justice  to  call  Sir  Reginald. 

"  In  seeking  you  at  such  a  spot,  and  in  the  midst  of  this 
wild  landscape,"  said  the  latter,  "  I  might  have  been 
sured  I  should  be  certain  of  finding  one  who  really  loved 
the  sea  and  your  noble  profession.  The  Hall  is  a  melan 
choly  house  just  at  this  moment  ;  and  when  I  inquired  for 
you,  no  one  could  say  whither  you  had  strolled.  In  fol 
lowing  what  I  thought  a  seaman's  instinct,  it  appears  that 
I  did  well.  Do  my  eyes  fail  me  or  are  there  no  more  than 
three  vessels  at  anchor  yonder  ?  " 

"Your  eyes  are  still  good,  Sir  Reginald  ;  Admiral  Oakes 
sailed  several  hours  since,  and  he  has  been  followed  by 
all  the  fleet,  with  the  exception  of  the  two  line-of-battle 
ships,  and  the  frigate  you  see  ;  leaving  me  to  be  the  last  to 
quit  the  anchorage." 

"  Is  it  a  secret  of  state,  or  are  you  permitted  to  say 
whither  so  strong  a  force  has  so  suddenly  sailed  ?"  de 
manded  the  Baronet,  glancing  his  dark  eye  so  expressively 
toward  the  other  as  to  give  him,  in  the  growing  obscurity, 
the  appearance  of  an  inquisitor.  "  I  had  been  told  the 
fleet  would  wait  for  orders  from  London." 

"  Such  was  the  first  intention  of  the  commander-in-chief ; 
but  intelligence  of  the  sailing  of  the  Comte  de  Vervillin 
has  induced  Sir  Gervaise  to  change  his  mind.  An  Eng 
lish  admiral  seldom  errs  when  he  seeks  and  beats  an  ac 
tive  and  dangerous  enemy." 

"  Is  this  always  true,  Admiral  Bluewater  ?"  returned  Sir 
Reginald,  dropping  in  at  the  side  of  the  other,  and  joining 
in  his  walk,  as  he  paced,  to  and  fro,  a  short  path  that  But 
ton  called  his  own  quarter-deck  ;  "  or  is  it  merely  an  un 
meaning  generality  that  sometimes  causes  men  to  become 
the  dupes  of  their  own  imaginations  ?  Are  those  always 
our  enemies  who  may  seem  to  be  so  ?  or,  are  we  so  infalli 
ble  that  every  feeling  or  prejudice  may  be  safely  set  down 
as  an  impulse  to  which  we  ought  to  submit,  without  ques 
tioning  its  authority  ?" 


240  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

"  Do  you  esteem  it  a  prejudice  to  view  France  as  the 
natural  enemy  of  England,  Sir  Reginald  ?  " 

"  By  Heaven,  I  do,  sir !  I  can  conceive  that  England 
may  be  much  more  her  own  enemy  than  France  has  ever 
proved  to  be.  Then,  conceding  that  ages  of  warfare  have 
contributed  to  awaken  some  such  feeling  as  this  you  hint 
at,  is  there  not  a  question  of  right  and  wrong  that  lies  be 
hind  all  ?  Reflect  how  often  England  has  invaded  the  French 
soil,  and  what  serious  injuries  she  has  committed  on  the 
territory  of  the  latter,  while  France  has  so  little  wronged  us, 
\tl-the  same  way  ;  how  even  her  throne  has  been  occupied 
by  our  princes,  and  her  provinces  possessed  by  our  armies." 

"I  think  you  hardly  allow  for  all  the  equity  of  the  differ 
ent  cases.  Parts  of  what  is  now  France  were  the  just  inher 
itance  of  those  who  have  sat  on  the  English  throne,  and  the 
quarrels  were  no  more  than  the  usual  difficulties  of  neigh 
borhood.  When  our  claims  were  just  in  themselves,  you 
surely  could  not  have  wished  to  see  them  abandoned." 

"  Far  from  it  ;  but  when  claims  were  disputed,  is  it  not 
natural  for  the  loser  to  view  them  as  a  hardship  ?  I  believe 
we  should  have  had  a  much  better  neighborhood,  as  you 
call  it,  with  France,  had  not  the  modern  difficulties  con 
nected  with  religious  changes,  occurred." 

"I  presume  you  know,  Sir  Reginald,  that  I  and  all  my 
family  are  Protestants." 

"I  do,  Admiral  Bluewater  ;  and  I  rejoice  to  find  that  a 
difference  of  opinion  on  this  great  interest  does  not  neces 
sarily  produce  one  on  all  others.  From  several  little  allu 
sions  that  have  passed  between  us  to-day,  I  am  encouraged 
to  believe  that  we  think  alike  on  certain  temporal  matters, 
however  wide  the  chasm  between  us  on  spiritual  things." 

"  I  confess  I  have  fallen  into  the  same  conclusion,  and  I 
should  be  sorry  to  be  undeceived  if  wrong." 

"What  occasion,  then,  for  farther  ambiguity?  Surely 
two  honorable  men  may  safely  trust  each  other  with  their 
common  sentiments,  when  the  times  call  for  decision  and 
frankness  !  I  am  a  Jacobite,  Admiral  Blue\vater  ;  if  I  risk 
life  and  fortune  by  making  the  avowal,  I  place  both,  with 
out  reserve,  at  your  mercy." 

"  They  could  not  be  in  safer  hands,  sir  ;  and  I  know  no 
better  mode  of  giving  you  every  possible  assurance  that 
the  confidence  will  not  be  abused,  than  by  telling  you  in 
return,  that  I  would  cheerfully  lay  down  my  life  could  the 
sacrifice  restore  the  deposed  family  to  the  throne." 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  241 

"  This  is  noble,  and  manly,  and  frank,  as  I  had  hoped 
from  a  sailor ! "  exclaimed  Sir  Reginald,  more  delighted 
than  he  well  knew  how  to  express  at  the  moment.  "  This 
simple  assurance  from  your  lips,  carries  more  weight  than 
all  the  oaths  and  pledges  of  vulgar  conspiracy.  We  under 
stand  each  other,  and  I  should  be  truly  sorry  to  inspire 
less  confidence  than  I  feel." 

"  What  better  proof   can   I    give   you  for   the   reliance 

E laced  on  your  faith,  than  the  declaration  you  have  heard, 
ir  Reginald  ?  My  head  would  answer  for  your  treachery 
in  a  week  ;  but  I  have  never  felt  it  more  securely  on  my 
shoulders  than  at  this  moment." 

The  Baronet  grasped  the  other's  hand,  and  each  gave 
and  received  a  pressure  that  was  full  of  meaning.  Then 
both  walked  on,  thoughtful- and  relieved,  for  quite  a  min 
ute,  in  profound  silence. 

"  This  sudden  appearance  of  the  Prince  in  Scotland  has 
taken  us  all  a  little  by  surprise,"  Sir  Reginald  resumed, 
after  the  pause ;  "  though  a  few  of  us  knew  that  his  inten 
tions  led  him  this  way.  Perhaps  he  has  done  well  to  come 
unattended  by  a  foreign  force,  and  to  throw  himself,  as  it 
might  be  singly,  into  the  arms  of  his  subjects  ;  trusting 
everything  to  their  generosity,  loyalty,  and  courage.  Some 
blame  him  ;  but  I  do  not.  He  will  awaken  interest,  now, 
in  every  generous  heart  in  the  nation  " — this  was  artfully 
adapted  to  the  character  of  the  listener — "  whereas  some 
might  feel  disposed  to  be  lukewarm  under  a  less  manly 
appeal  to  their  affections  and  loyalty.  In  Scotland,  we 
learn  from  all  directions  that  his  Royal  Highness  is  doing 
winders,  while  the  friends  of  his  house  are  full  of  activity 
in  England,  though  compelled,  for  a  time,  to  be  watchful 
and  prudent." 

"  I  rejoice,  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  to  hear  this !  " 
said  Bluewater,  drawing  a  long  breath,  like  one  whose 
mind  was  unexpectedly  relieved  from  a  heavy  load.  "From 
the  bottom  of  my  heart  do  I  rejoice  !  I  had  my  appre 
hensions  that  the  sudden  appearance  of  the  Prince  might 
find  his  well-wishers  unprepared  and  timid." 

"As  far  from  that  as  possible,  my  dear  sir;  though 
much  still  depends  on  the  promptitude  and  resolutions  of 
the  master  spirits  of  the  party.  We  are  strong  enough  to 
control  the  nation,  if  we  can  bring  those  forward  who  have 
the  strength  to  lead,  and  control  ourselves.  All  we  now 
Want  is  some  hundred  or  two  of  prominent  men  to  step 
16 


242  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

out  of  their  diffidence,  and  show  us  the  way  to  honorable 
achievement  and  certain  success." 

"  Can  such  men  be  wanting,  at  a  moment  like  this  ? " 

"  I  think  we  are  secure  of  most  of  the  high  nobility, 
though  their  great  risks  render  them  all  a  little  wary  in  the 
outset.  It  is  among  the  professional  men — the  gallant 
soldiers,  and  the  bold,  ardent  seamen  of  the  fleet,  that  \ve 
must  look  for  the  first  demonstrations  of  loyalty  and  true 
patriotism.  To  be  honest  with  you,  sir,  I  tire  of  being 
ruled  by  a  German." 

"  Do  you  know  of  any  intention  to  rally  a  force  in  this 
part  of  England,  Sir  Reginald  ?  If  so,  say  but  the  word — 
point  out  the  spot  where  the  standard  is  to  be  raised,  and 
I  will  rally  under  it,  the  instant  circumstances  will  per 
mit  !" 

"This  is  just  what  I  expected,  Mr.  Bluewater,"  answered 
the  Baronet,  more  gratified  than  he  thought  it  prudent  to 
express  :  "  though  it  is  not  the  form  in  which  you  can 
best  serve  us  at  this  precise  moment.  Cut  off  from  the 
north,  as  we  are  in  this  part  of  the  island,  by  all  the  re 
sources  of  the  actual  government,  it  would  be  the  height 
of  imprudence  in  us  to  show  our  hands,  until  all  the  cards 
are  ready  to  be  played.  Active  and  confidential  agents  are 
at  work  in  the  army  ;  London  has  its  proper  share  of 
business  men,  while  others  are  in  the  counties,  doing  their 
best  to  put  things  in  shape  for  the  consummation  we  so 
anxiously  look  for.  I  have  been  with  several  of  our  friends 
in  this  vicinity,  to  bring  matters  into  a  combined  state ; 
and  it  was  my  intention  to  visit  this  very  estate,  to  see 
what  my  own  name  might  do  with  the  tenantry,  had  not 
the  late  Sir  Wycherly  summoned  me  as  he  did,  to  attend 
his  death-bed.  Have  you  any  clue  to  the  feelings  of  this 
new  and  young  head  of  my  family,  the  sea-lieutenant  and 
present  Baronet  ?  " 

"Not  a  very  plain  one,  sir,  though  I  doubt  if  they  be 
favorable  to  the  House  of  Stuart." 

"  I  feared  as  much  ;  this  very  evening  I  have  had  an 
anonymous  communication  that  I  think  must  come  from 
his  competitor,  pretty  plainly  intimating  that,  by  asserting 
his  rights,  as  they  are  called,  the  whole  Wychecombe  ten 
antry  and  interest  could  be  united,  in  the  present  strug 
gle,  on  whichever  side  I  might  desire  to  see  them." 

"This  is  a  bold  and  decided  stroke,  truly !  May  I  in 
quire  as  to  your  answer,  Sir  Reginald  ?" 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  243 

"  I  shall  give  none.  Under  all  circumstances  I  will  ever 
refuse  to  place  a  bastard  in  the  seat  of  a  legitimate  de 
scendant  of  my  family.  We  contend  for  legal  and  natural 
rights,  my  dear  Admiral,  and  the  means  employed  should 
not  be  unworthy  of  the  end.  Besides,  I  know  the  scoun 
drel  to  be  unworthy  of  trust,  and  shall  not  have  the  weak 
ness  to  put  myself  in  his  power.  I  could  wish  the  other 
boy  to  be  of  another  mind  ;  but,  by  getting  him  off  to  sea, 
whither  he  tells  me  he  is  bound,  we  shall  at  least  send 
him  out  of  harm's  way." 

In  all  this  Sir  Reginald  was  perfectly  sincere  ;  for,  while 
he  did  not  always  hesitate  about  the  employment  of  means, 
in  matters  of  politics,  he  was  rigidly  honest  in  every  thing 
that  related  to  private  property  ;  a  species  of  moral  con 
tradiction  that  is  sometimes  found  among  men  who  aim  at 
the  management  of  human  affairs  :  since  those  often  yield 
to  a  besetting  weakness  who  are  nearly  irreproachable  in 
other  matters.  Bluewater  was  glad  to  hear  this  declara 
tion  ;  his  own  simplicity  of  character  inducing  him  to 
fancy  it  was  an  indication  to  the  general  probity  of  his 
companion. 

"Yes,"  observed  the  latter,  "in  all  cases,  we  must  main 
tain  the  laws  of  the  land  in  an  affair  of  private  right. 
This  young  man  is  not  capable,  perhaps,  of  forming  a 
just  estimate  of  his  political  duties,  in  a  crisis  like  this, 
and  it  may  be  well,  truly,  to  get  him  off  to  sea,  lest  by 
taking  the  losing  side,  he  endangers  his  estate  before  he 
is  fairly  possessed  of  it.  And  having  disposed  of  Sir 
Wycherly,  what  can  I  do  most  to  aid  the  righteous  and 
glorious  cause  ? " 

"  This  is  coming  to  the  point  manfully,  Sir  Richard — I 
beg  pardon  for  thus  styling  you,  but  I  happen  to  know 
that  your  name  has  been  before  the  prince,  for  some  time, 
as  one  of  those  who  are  to  receive  the  ribbon  from  a  sov 
ereign  really  authorized  to  bestow  it  ;  if  I  have  spoken  a 
little  prematurely,  I  again  entreat  your  pardon — but  this 
is  at  once  coming  manfully  to  the  point  !  Serve  us  you 
can,  of  course,  and  that  most  effectually,  and  in  an  all- 
important  manner.  I  now  greatly  regret  that  my  father 
had  not  put  me  in  the  army,  in  my  youth,  that  I  might 
serve  my  prince  as  I  could  wish  in  this  perilous  trial.  But 
we  have  many  friends  accustomed  to  arms,  and  among 
them  your  own  honorable  name  will  appear  conspicuous 
as  to  the  past;  and  encouraging  as  to  the  future." 


244  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  I  have  carried  arms  from  boyhood,  it  is  true,  Sir  Reg 
inald,  but  it  is  in  a  service  that  will  scarcely  much  avail 
us  in  this  warfare.  Prince  Edward  has  no  ships,  nor  do  I 
know  he  will  need  any." 

"True,  my  dear  sir,  but  King  George  has  !  As  for  the 
necessity,  permit  me  to  say  you  are  mistaken  ;  it  will  soon 
be  all-important  to  keep  open  the  communication  with  the 
Continent.  No  doubt  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  is  out,  with 
some  such  object,  already." 

Bluewater  started,  and  he  recoiled  from  the  firm  grasp 
which  the  other  took  of  his  arm,  in  the  earnestness  of 
discourse,  with  some  such  instinctive  aversion  as  a  man 
recoils  from  the  touch  of  the  reptile.  The  thought 
of  a  treachery  like  that  implied  in  the  remark  of  his 
companion  had  never  occurred  to  him,  and  his  honest 
mind  turned  with  a  strong  disrelish  from  even  the  implied 
proposition  of  the  other.  Still,  he  was  not  quite  certain 
how  far  Sir  Reginald  wished  to  urge  him,  and  he  felt  it 
just  to  ascertain  his  real  views  before  he  answered  them. 
Plausible  as  this  appeared,  it  was  a  dangerous  delay  for 
one  so  simple-minded,  when  brought  in  contact  with  one 
so  practised  as  the  Baronet ;  Sir  Reginald  having  the  tact 
to  perceive  that  his  new  friend's  feelings  had  already  taken 
the  alarm,  and  at  once  determined  to  be  more  wary. 

"What  am  I  to  understand  by  this,  Sir  Reginald  Wyche- 
combe  ?"  demanded  the  Rear-admiral.  "In  what  manner 
can  I  possibly  be  connected  with  the  naval  resources  of 
the  House  of  Hanover,  when  it  is  my  intention  to  throw 
off  its  service  ?  King  George's  fleets  will  hardly  aid  the 
Stuarts  ;  and  they  will,  at  least,  obey  the  orders  of  their 
own  officers." 

"  Not  the  least  doubt  in  the  world  of  this,  Admiral 
Bluewater !  What  a  glorious  privilege  it  was  for  Monk  to 
have  it  in  his  power  to  put  his  liege  sovereign  in  his  right 
ful  seat,  and  thus  to  save  the  empire  by  a  coup  de  main, 
from  the  pains  and  grievances  of  a  civil  contest!  Of  all 
the  glorious  names  in  English  history,  I  esteem  that  of 
George  Monk  as  the  one  most  to  be  envied  !  It  is  a  great 
thing  to  be  a  prince — one  born  to  be  set  apart  as  God's  sub 
stitute  on  earth,  in  all  that  relates  to  human  justice  and 
human  power  ;  yet  it  is  greater,  in  my  eyes,  to  be  the  sub 
ject  to  restore  the  order  of  these  almost  divine  successions, 
when  once  deranged  by  lawless  and  presuming  men." 

*'  This  is  true  enough,  sir ;  though  I  would  rather  have 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  245 

joined  Charles  on  the  beach  at  Dover,  armed  only  with  a 
untainted  sword,  than  followed  by  an  army  at  my  heels  ! " 

"  What,  when  the  army  followed  cheerfully,  and  was 
equally  eager  with  yourself  to  serve  their  sovereign  ! " 

"That,  indeed,  might  somewhat  qualify  the  feeling. 
But  soldiers  and  sailors  are  usually  influenced  by  the 
opinions  of  those  who  have  been  placed  over  them  by  the 
higher  authorities." 

"  No  doubt  they  are  ;  and  that  is  as  it  should  be.  We 
are  encouraged  to  believe  that  some  ten  or  fifteen  captains 
are  already  well-disposed  toward  us,  and  will  cheerfully 
take  their  respective  ships  to  the  points  our  wants  require, 
the  moment  they  feel  assured  of  being  properly  led,  when 
collected.  By  a  little  timely  concert,  we  can  command 
the  North  Sea,  and  keep  open  important  communications 
with  the  Continent.  It  is  known  the  ministry  intend  to 
employ  as  many  German  troops  as  they  can  assemble,  and 
a  naval  force  will  be  all-important  in  keeping  these  mus 
tachioed  foreigners  at  a  distance.  The  quarrel  is  purely 
English,  sir,  and  ought  to  be  decided  by  Englishmen 
only." 

"  In  that,  indeed,  I  fully  concur,  Sir  Reginald,"  answered 
Bluewater,  breathing  more  freely.  "I  would  cruise  a 
whole  winter  in  the  North  Sea  to  keep  the  Dutchmen  at 
home,  and  let  the  Englishmen  decide  who  is  to  be  Eng 
land's  king.  To  me,  foreign  interference,  in  such  a  mat 
ter  is  the  next  evil  to  positive  disloyalty  to  my  rightful 
prince." 

"These  are  exactly  my  sentiments,  dear  sir,  and  I  hope 
to  see  you  act  on  them.  By  the  way,  how  happens  it  you 
are  left  alone,  and  in  what  manner  do  you  admirals  divide 
your  authority  when  serving  in  company  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know  I  comprehend  your  question,  Sir  Regi 
nald.  I  am  left  here  to  sail  the  last  with  the  Caesar ;  Sir 
Gervaise  leading  out  in  the  Plantagenet,  with  a  view  to 
draw  a  line  across  the  channel  that  shall  effectually  prevent 
De  Vervillin  from  getting  to  the  westward." 

"  To  the  westward  !  "  repeated  the  other,  smiling  ironi 
cally,  though  the  darkness  prevented  the  Admiral  from 
seeing  the  expression  of  his  features.  "  Does  Admiral 
Oakes  then  think  that  the  French  ships  are  steering  in 
that  direction  ?" 

"Such  is  our  information  ;  have  you  any  reason  to  sup 
pose  that  the  enemy  intend  differently?" 


246  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

The  Baronet  paused,  and  he  appeared  to  ruminate. 
Enough  had  already  been  said  to  satisfy  him  he  had  not 
an  ordinary  mind  in  that  of  his  companion  to  deal  with, 
and  he  was  slightly  at  a  loss  how  to  answer.  To  bring  the 
other  within  his  lures,  he  was  fully  resolved  ;  and  the  spirits 
that  aid  the  designing  just  at  that  moment  suggested  the 
plan  which,  of  all  others,  was  most  likely  to  be  successful. 
Bluewater  had  betrayed  his  aversion  to  the  interference  of 
foreign  troops  in  the  quarrel,  and  on  this  subject  he  in 
tended  to  strike  a  chord  which  he  rightly  fancied  would 
thrill  on  the  Rear-admiral's  feelings. 

"We  have  our  information,  certainly,"  answered  Sir 
Reginald,  like  one  who  was  reluctant  to  tell  all  he  knew  ; 
"  though  good  faith  requires  it  should  not  actually  be  ex 
posed.  Nevertheless,  anyone  can  reason  on  the  probabil 
ities.  The  Duke  of  Cumberland  will  collect  his  German 
auxiliaries,  and  they  must  get  into  England  the  best  way 
that  they  can.  Would  an  intelligent  enemy  with  a  well- 
appointed  fleet  suffer  this  junction,  if  he  could  prevent  it  ? 
We  know  he  would  not,  and  when  we  remember  the  pre 
cise  time  of  the  sailing  of  the  Comte,  his  probable  igno 
rance  of  the  presence  of  this  squadron  of  yours,  in  the 
channel,  and  all  the  other  circumstances  of  the  case,  who 
can  suppose  otherwise  than  to  believe  his  aim  is  to  inter 
cept  the  German  regiments." 

"This  does  seem  plausible  ;  and  yet  the  Active's  signals 
told  us  that  the  French  were  steering  west  ;  and  that, 
too,  with  a  light  westerly  wind." 

"  Do  not  fleets,  like  armies,  frequently  make  false  demon 
strations  ?  Might  not  Monsieur  de  Vervillin,  so  long  as 
his  vessels  were  in  sight  from  the  shore,  have  turned  to 
ward  the  west,  with  an  intention,  as  soon  as  covered  by  the 
darkness,  to  incline  to  the  east,  again,  and  sail  up  channel, 
under  English  ensigns,  perhaps  ?  Is  it  not  possible  for 
him  to  pass  the  Straits  of  Dover,  even,  as  an  English 
squadron — your  own,  for  instance — and  thus  deceive  the 
Hanoverian  cruisers  until  ready  to  seize  or  destroy  any 
transports  that  may  be  sent  ?  " 

"Hardly,  Sir  Reginald,"  said  Bluewater,  smiling.  "A 
French  ship  can  no  more  be  mistaken  for  an  English  ship, 
than  a  Frenchman  can  pass  for  a  Briton.  We  sailors  are 
not  as  easily  deceived  as  that  would  show.  It  is  true,  how 
ever,  that  a  fleet  might  well  stand  in  one  direction,  until 
far  enough  off  the  land  or  covered  by  night,  when  it  might 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  247 

change  its  course  suddenly,  in  an  opposite  direction  ;  and  it 
is  possible  the  Comte  de  Vervillin  has  adopted  some  such 
stratagem.  If  he  actually  knew  of  the  intention  to  throw 
German  troops  into  the  island,  it  is  even  quite  probable. 
In  that  case,  for  one,  I  could  actually  wish  him  success  !  " 

"  Well,  my  dear  sir,  and  what  is  to  prevent  it  ? "  asked 
Sir  Reginald,  with  a  triumph  that  was  not  feigned.  "  Noth 
ing,  you  will  say,  unless  he  fall  in  with  Sir  Gervaise 
Cakes.  But  you  have  not  answered  my  inquiry,  as  to  the 
manner  in  which  flag-officers  divide  their  commands  at  sea?" 

"  As  soldiers  divide  their  commands  ashore.  The  supe 
rior  orders  and  the  inferior  obeys." 

"Aye,  this  is  true  ;  but  it  does  not  meet  my  question. 
Here  are  eleven  large  ships,  and  two  admirals  ;  now  what 
portion  of  these  ships  are  under  your  particular  orders, 
and  what  portion  under  those  of  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  ?  " 

"  The  Vice-admiral  has  assigned  to  himself  a  division  of 
six  of  the  ships,  and  left  me  for  the  other  five.  Each  of 
us  has  his  frigates  and  smaller  vessels.  But  an  order  that 
the  commander-in-chief  may  choose  to  give  any  captain 
must  be  obeyed  by  him,  as  the  inferior  submits,,  as  a  rule, 
to  the  last  order." 

"And  you,"  resumed  Sir  Reginald,  with  quickness; 
"  how  are  you  situated,  as  respects  these  captains  ? " 

"  Should  I  give  a  direct  order  to  any  captain  in  the  fleet, 
it  would  certainly  be  his  duty  to  obey  it  ;  though  circum 
stances  might  occur  which  would  render  it  obligatory  on 
him  to  let  me  know  that  he  had  different  instructions  from 
our  common  superior.  But  why  these  questions,  Sir  Regi 
nald  ? " 

"  Your  patience,  my  dear  Admiral  ;  and  what  ships  have 
you  specifically  under  your  care  ?  " 

"The  Caesar,  my  own  ;  the  Dublin,  the  Elizabeth,  the 
York,  and  the  Dover.  To  these  must  be  added  the  Druid 
frigate,  the  sloop  of  war,  and  the  Gnat.  My  division 
numbers  eight  in  all." 

"What  a  magnificent  force  to  possess  at.  a  momentous 
crisis  as  this  !  But  where  are  all  these  vessels  ?  I  see  but 
four  and  a  cutter,  and  only  two  of  these  seem  to  be  large." 

"  The  light  you  perceive  there,  along  the  land  to  the 
westward,  is  on  board  the  Elizabeth  ;  and  that  broad  off 
here,  in  the  channel,  is  on  board  the  York.  The  Dover's 
lantern  has  disappeared  farther  to  the  southward.  Ah  ! 
there  the  Dublin  casts,  and  is  off  after  the  others  ! " 


248  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

11  And  you  intend  to  follow,  Admiral  Bluewater  ?  " 

"  Within  an  hour,  or  I  shall  lose  the  division.  As  it  is, 
I  have  been  deliberating  on  the  propriety  of  calling  back 
the  sternmost  ships,  and  collecting  them  in  close  squadron  ; 
for  this  increase  and  hauling  of  the  wind  render  it  prob 
able  they  will  lose  the  Vice-admiral,  and  that  daylight 
will  find  the  line  scattered  and  in  confusion.  One  mind 
must  control  the  movements  of  ships,  as  well  as  of  battal 
ions,  Sir  Reginald,  if  they  are  to  act  in  concert." 

"  With  what  view  would  you  collect  the  vessels  you 
have  mentioned,  and  in  the  manner  you  have  named,  if 
you  do  not  deem  my  inquiry  indiscreet  ?"  demanded  the 
Baronet,  with  quickness. 

"  Simply  that  they  might  be  kept  together,  and  brought 
in  subjection  to  my  own  particular  signals.  This  is  the 
duty  that  more  especially  falls  to  my  share,  as  head  of 
the  division." 

u  Have  you  the  means  to  effect  this,  here,  on  this  hill, 
and  by  yourself,  sir?" 

"  It  would  be  a  great  oversight  to  neglect  so  important 
a  provision.  My  signal-officer  is  lying  under  yonder 
cover,  wrapped  in  his  cloak,  and  two  quartermasters  are 
in  readiness  to  make  the  very  signal  in  question  ;  for  its 
necessity  has  been  foreseen,  and  really  would  seem  to  be 
approaching.  If  done  at  all,  it  must  be  done  quickly,  too. 
The  light  of  the  York  grows  dim  in  the  distance.  It  shall 
be  done,  sir  ;  prudence  requires  it,  and  you  shall  see  the 
manner  in  which  we  hold  our  distant  ships  in  command." 

Bluewater  could  not  have  announced  more  agreeable 
intelligence  to  his  companion.  Sir  Reginald  was  afraid 
to  propose  the  open  treason  he  meditated  ;  but  he  fancied, 
if  the  Rear-admiral  could  fairly  withdraw  his  own  divis 
ion  from  the  fleet,  it  would  at  once  weaken  the  Vice- 
admiral  so  much  as  to  render  an  engagement  with  the 
French  impossible,  and  might  lead  to  such  a  separation 
of  the  commands  as  to  render  the  final  defection  of  the 
division  in-shore  easier  of  accomplishment.  It  is  true, 
Bluewater,  himself,  was  actuated  by  motives  directly  con 
trary  to  these  wishes  ;  but,  as  the  parties  travelled  the  same 
road  to  a  certain  point,  the  intriguing  Baronet  had  his 
expectations  of  being  able  to  persuade  his  new  friend  to 
continue  on  in  his  own  route. 

Promptitude  is  a  military  virtue,  and,  among  seamen, 
it  is  a  maxim  to  do  everything  that  is  required  to  be  done, 


THE    TWO 

with  activity  and  vigor.  These  laws  were  not  neglected 
on  the  present  occasion.  No  sooner  had  the  Rear-admiral 
determined  on  his  course,  than  he  summoned  his  agents 
to  put  it  in  execution.  Lord  Geoffrey  had  returned  to 
the  heights  and  was  within  call,  and  he  carried  the  orders 
to  the  Lieutenant  and  the  quartermasters.  The  lanterns 
only  required  lighting,  and  then  they  were  run  aloft  on 
Dutton's  staff,  as  regularly  as  the  same  duty  could  have 
been  performed  on  the  poop  of  the  Caesar.  Three  rockets 
were  thrown  up,  immediately  after,  and  the  gun  kept  on 
the  cliffs  for  that  purpose  was  fired,  to  draw  attention  to 
the  signal.  It  might  have  been  a  minute  ere  the  heavy 
ordnance  of  the  Caesar  repeated  the  summons,  and  the 
same  signal  was  shown  at  her  masthead.  The  Dublin 
was  still  so  near  that  no  time  was  lost,  but  according  to 
orders,  she  too  repeated  the  signal ;  for  in  the  line  that 
night,  it  was  understood  that  an  order  of  this  nature 
was  to  be  sent  from  ship  to  ship, 

"Now  for  the  Elizabeth!"  cried  Bluewater;  "she 
cannot  fail  to  have  heard  our  guns,  and  to  see  our  sig 
nals." 

"The  York  is  ahead  of  her,  sir  !"  exclaimed  the  boy  ; 
"  see  she  has  the  signal  up  already  ! " 

All  this  passed  in  a  very  few  minutes,  the  last  ship  hav 
ing  sailed  in  the  expectation  of  receiving  some  such  re 
call.  The  York  preceded  the  ship  next  to  her  in  the  line, 
in  consequence  of  having  gone  about,  and  being  actually 
nearer  to  the  Rear-admiral  than  her  second  astern.  It 
was  but  a  minute,  before  the  gun  and  the  lanterns  of  the 
Elizabeth,  however,  announced  her  knowledge  of  the 
order,  also. 

The  two  ships  last  named  were  no  longer  visible  from 
the  cliffs,  though  their  positions  were  known  by  their 
lights  ;  but  no  sign  whatever  indicated  the  part  of  the 
ocean  on  which  the  Dover  was  struggling  along  through 
the  billows.  After  a  pause  of  several  minutes,  Bluewater 
spoke. 

"  I  fear  we  shall  collect  no  more,"  he  said  ;  "one  of  my 
ships  must  take  her  chance  to  find  the  commander-in-chief, 
alone.  Ha  ! — that  means  something  !  " 

At  this  instant  a  faint,  distant  flash  was  seen,  for  a  sin 
gle  moment,  in  the  gloom,  and  all  heads  were  bent  forward 
to  listen,  in  breathless  attention.  A  little  time  had 
clasped,  when  the  dull  smothered  report  of  a  gun  pro- 


250  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

claimed  that  even  the  Dover  had  caught  the  rapidly  trans 
mitted  order. 

"  What  means  that,  sir  ? "  eagerly  demanded  Sir  Reginald, 
who  had  attended  to  everything  with  intense  expectation. 

"  It  means,  sir,  that  all  the  divisions  are  still  under  my 
command.  No  other  ship  would  note  the  order.  Their 
directions,  unless  specifically  pointed  out  by  their  num 
bers,  must  come  from  the  Vice-admiral.  Is  my  barge 
ashore,  Lord  Geoffrey  Cleveland?" 

"  It  is,  sir,  as  well  as  the  cutter  for  Mr.  Cornet  and  the 
quartermasters. " 

"  It  is  well.  Gentlemen,  we  will  go  on  board ;  the 
Caesar  must  weigh  and  join  the  other  vessels  in  the  offing. 
I  will  follow  you  to  the  landing,  but  you  will  shove  off,  at 
once,  and  desire  Captain  Stowel  to  weigh  and  cast  to-port. 
We  will  fill  on  the  starboard  tack,  and  haul  directly  off 
the  land." 

The  whole  party  immediately  left  the  station,  hurrying 
down  to  the  boats,  leaving  Bluewater  and  Sir  Reginald  to 
follow  more  leisurely.  It  was  a  critical  moment  for  the 
Baronet,  who  had  so  nearly  effected  his  purpose  that  his 
disappointment  would  have  been  double,  did  he  fail  of  his 
object  altogether.  He  determined,  therefore,  not  to  quit 
the  Admiral  while  there  was  the  slightest  hope  of  success. 
The  two  consequently  descended  together  to  the  shore, 
walking,  for  the  first  minute  or  two,  in  profound  silence. 

"A  great  game  is  in  your  hands,  Admiral  Bluewater," 
resumed  the  Baronet;  "  rightly  played,  it  may  secure  the 
triumph  of  the  good  cause.  I  think  I  may  say  I  know 
De  Vervillin's  object,  and  that  his  success  will  reseat 
the  Stuarts  on  the  throne  of  their  ancestors  !  One  who 
loves  them  should  ponder  well  before  he  does  aught  to 
mar  so  glorious  a  result." 

This  speech  was  as  bold  as  it  was  artful.  In  point  of 
fact,  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  knew  no  more  of  the 
Comte  de  Vervillin's  intended  movements  than  his  com 
panion  ;  but  he  did  not  hesitate  to  assert  what  he  now  did 
in  order  to  obtain  a  great  political  advantage,  in  a  mo 
ment  of  so  much  importance.  To  commit  Bluewater  and 
his  captains  openly  on  the  side  of  the  Stuarts  would  be  a 
great  achievement  in  itself  ;  to  frustrate  the  plans  of  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  might  safely  be  accounted  another  ;  and  then,  there 
were  all  the  chances  that  the  Frenchman  was  not  at  sea  for 
nothing,  and  that  his  operations  might  indeed  cover  the 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  251 

movements  of  the  princes.  The  Baronet,  upright  as  he  was 
in  other  matters,  had  no  scruples  of  conscience  on  this 
occasion  ;  having  long  since  brought  himself  over  to  the  be 
lief  that  it  was  justifiable  to  attain  ends  as  great  as  those 
he  had  in  view,  by  the  sacrifice  of  any  of  the  minor  moral 
considerations. 

The  effect  on  Bluewater  was  not  trifling.  The  devil  had 
placed  the  bait  before  his  eyes  in  a  most  tempting  form  ; 
for  he  felt  that  he  had  only  to  hold  his  division  in  reserve, 
to  render  an  engagement  morally  improbable.  Abandon 
his  friend  to  a  superior  force  he  could  not  and  would  not  ; 
but  it  is  our  painful  duty  to  avow  that  his  mind  had 
glimpses  of  the  possibility  of  doing  the  adventurer  in 
Scotland  a  great  good,  without  doing  the  Vice-admiral 
and  the  van  of  the  fleet  any  essential  harm.  Let  us  be 
understood,  however.  The  Rear-admiral  did  not  even 
contemplate  treason,  or  serious  defection  of  any  sort ;  but 
through  one  of  those  avenues  of  frailty  by  which  men  are 
environed,  he  had  a  glance  at  results  that  the  master-spirit 
of  evil  momentarily  placed  before  his  mental  vision  as 
both  great  and  glorious. 

"  I  wish  we  were  really  certain  of  De  Vervillin's  object," 
he  said  ;  the  only  concession  he  made  to  this  novel  feel 
ing,  in  words.  "  It  might,  indeed,  throw  a  great  light  on 
the  course  we  ought  to  take  ourselves.  I  do  detest  this 
German  alliance,  and  would  abandon  the  service  ere  I 
would  convey  or  transport  a  ragamuffin  of  them  all  to 
England." 

Here  Sir  Reginald  proved  how  truly  expert  he  was  in 
the  arts  of  management.  A  train  of  thought  and  feeling 
had  been  lighted  in  the  mind  of  his  companion,  which 
he  felt  might  lead  to  all  he  wished,  while  he  was  appre 
hensive  that  farther  persuasion  would  awaken  opposition, 
and  renew  old  sentiments.  He  wisely  determined,  there 
fore,  to  leave  things  as  they  were,  trusting  to  the  strong 
and  declared  bias  of  the  Admiral  in  favor  of  the  revolu 
tion,  to  work  out  its  own  consequences,  with  a  visible  and 
all-important  advantage  so  prominently  placed  before  his 
eyes. 

"I  know  nothing  of  ships,"  he  answered,  modestly,  "but 
I  do  know  that  the  Comte  has  our  succor  in  view.  It 
would  ill  become  me  to  advise  one  of  your  experience  how 
to  lead  a  force  like  this,  which  is  subject  to  your  orders  ; 
but  a  friend  of  the  good  cause,  who  is  now  in  the  West,  and 


252  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

who  was  lately  in  the  presence  itself,  tells  me  that  the 
Prince  manifested  extreme  satisfaction  when  he  learned 
how  much  it  might  be  in  your  power  to  serve  him." 

"  Do  you  then  think  my  name  has  reached  the  royal  ear, 
and  that  the  Prince  has  any  knowledge  of  my  real  feelings!  " 

"  Nothing  but  your  extreme  modesty  could  cause  you  to 
doubt  the  first,  sir  ;  as  to  the  last,  ask  yourself  how  came  I 
to  approach  you  to-night,  with  my  heart  in  my  hand,  as  it 
might  be,  making  you  master  of  my  life  as  well  as  of  my 
secret.  Love  and  hatred  are  emotions  that  soon  betray 
themselves." 

It  is  a  matter  of  historical  truth  that  men  of  the  highest 
principles  and  strongest  minds  have  yielded  to  the  flattery 
of  rank.  Bluevvater's  political  feelings  had  rendered  him 
indifferent  to  the  blandishments  of  the  court  at  London, 
while  his  imagination,  that  chivalrous  deference  to  antiq 
uity  and  political  right,  which  lay  at  the  root  of  his 
Jacobitism,  and  his  brooding  sympathies,  disposed  him  but 
too  well  to  become  the  dupe  of  language  like  this.  Had 
lie  been  more  a  man  of  facts,  one  less  under  the  influence 
of  his  own  imagination ;  had  it  been  his  good  fortune  to 
live  even  in  contact  with  those  he  now  so  devoutly  wor 
shipped,  in  a  political  sense  at  least,  their  influence  over 
a  mind  as  just  and  clear-sighted  as  his  own  would  soon 
have  ceased  ;  but,  passing  his  time  at  sea,  they  had  the 
most  powerful  auxiliary  possible,  in  the  high  faculty  he 
possessed  of  fancying  things  as  he  wished  them  to  be.  No 
wonder,  then,  that  he  heard  this  false  assertion  of  Sir 
Reginald  with  a  glow  of  pleasure  ;  with  even  a  thrill  at 
the  heart  to  which  he  had  long  been  a  stranger.  For  a 
time,  his  better  feelings  were  smothered  in  this  new  and 
treacherous  sensation. 

The  gentlemen,  by  this  time,  were  at  the  landing,  and  it 
became  necessary  to  separate.  The  barge  of  the  Rear- 
admiral  was  with  difficulty  kept  from  leaping  on  the  rock, 
by  means  of  oars  and  boat-hooks,  and  each  instant  ren 
dered  the  embarkation  more  and  more  difficult.  The 
moments  were  precious  on  more  accounts  than  one,  and 
the  leave-taking  was  short.  Sir  Reginald  said  but  little, 
though  he  intended  the  pressure  of  the  hand  he  gave  his 
companion  to  express  everything. 

"God  be  with  you,"  he  added  ;  "  and  as  you  prove  true, 
may  you  prove  successful.  Remember,  '  A  lawful  prince, 
and  the  claims  of  birthright.'  God  be  with  you  ! " 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  253 

" Adieu,  Sir  Reginald;  when  we  next  meet,  the  future 
will  probably  be  more  apparent  to  us  all.  But  who  comes 
hither,  rushing  like  a  madman  toward  the  boat  ?  " 

A  form  came  leaping  through  the  darkness  ;  nor  was  it 
known,  until  it  stood  within  two  feet  of  Bluewater,  it  was 
that  of  Wycherly.  He  had  heard  the  guns  and  seen  the 
signals.  Guessing  at  the  reasons,  he  dashed  from  the 
park,  which  he  was  pacing  to  cool  his  agitation,  and  which 
now  owned  him  for  a  master,  and  ran  the  whole  distance 
to  the  shore,  in  order  not  to  be  left.  His  arrival  was 
most  opportune  ;  for,  in  another  minute,  the  barge  left  the 
rock. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

O'er  the  glad  waters  of  the  dark  blue  sea, 

Our  thoughts  as  boundless,  and  our  souls  as  free, 

Far  as  the  breeze  can  bear,  the  billows  foam, 

Survey  our  empire  and  behold  our  home. — The  Corsair. 

ONE  is  never  fully  aware  of  the  extent  of  the  movement 
that  agitates  the  bosom  of  the  ocean  until  fairly  subject 
to  its  action  himself,  when  indeed  we  all  feel  its  power 
and  reason  closely  on  its  dangers.  The  first  pitch  of  his 
boat  told  Bluewater  that  the  night  threatened  to  be 
serious.  As  the  lusty  oarsmen  bent  to  their  stroke,  the 
barge  rose  on  a  swell,  dividing  the  foam  that  glanced  past 
it  like  a  marine  aurora  borealis,  and  then  plunged  into  the 
trough  as  if  descending  to  the  bottom.  It  required  several 
united  and  vigorous  efforts  to  force  the  little  craft  from  its 
dangerous  vicinity  to  the  rocks,  and  to  get  it  in  perfect 
command.  This  once  done,  however,  the  well-practised 
crew  urged  the  barge  slowly  but  steadily  ahead. 

"A  dirty  night! — a  dirty  night!"  muttered  Bluewater, 
unconsciously,  to  himself;  "we  should  have  had  a  wild 
berth,  had  we  rode  out  this  blow,  at  anchor.  Oakes  will 
have  a  heavy  time  of  it  out  yonder  in  the  very  chops  of 
the  channel,  with  a  westerly  swell  heaving  in  against  this 
ebb." 

"Yes,  sir,"  answered  Wycherly;  "the  Vice-admiral 
will  be  looking  out  for  us  all,  anxiously  enough,  in  the 
morning." 

Not  another  syllable  did  Bluewater  utter  until  his  boat 
had  touched  the  side  of  the  Caesar.  He  reflected  deeply 


254  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

on  his  situation,  and  those  who  know  his  feelings  will 
easily  understand  that  his  reflections  were  not  altogether 
free  from  pain.  Such  as  they  were,  he  kept  them  to  him 
self,  however,  and  in  a  man-of-war's  boat,  when  a  flag- 
officer  chooses  to  be  silent,  it  is  a  matter  of  course  for  his 
inferiors  to  imitate  his  example. 

The  barge  was  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  land 
ing,  when  the  heavy  flap  of  the  Caesar's  main-topsail  was 
heard,  as,  close-reefed,  it  struggled  for  freedom,  while  her 
crew  drew  its  sheets  down  to  the  blocks  on  the  lower  yard- 
arms.  A  minute  later,  the  Gnat,  under  the  head  of  her 
fore-and-aft-mainsail,  was  seen  standing  slowly  off  from 
the  land,  looking  in  the  darkness  like  some  half-equipped 
shadow  of  herself.  The  sloop  of  war,  too,  was  seen  bend 
ing  low  to  the  force  of  the  wind,  with  her  mere  apology 
of  a  topsail  thrown  aback,  in  waiting  for  the  flag-ship  to 
cast. 

The  surface  of  the  waters  was  a  sheet  of  glancing  foam, 
while  the  air  was  filled  with  the  blended  sounds  of  the  wash 
of  the  element,  and  the  roar  of  the  winds.  Still  there  was 
nothing  chilling  or  repulsive  in  the  temperature  of  the  air, 
which  was  charged  with  the  freshness  of  the  sea,  and  was 
bracing  and  animating,  bringing  with  it  the  flavor  that  a 
seaman  loves.  After  fully  fifteen  minutes'  severe  tugging 
at  the  oars,  the  barge  drew  near  enough  to  permit  the 
black  mass  of  the  Caesar  to  be  seen.  For  some  time,  Lord 
Geoffrey,  who  had  seated  himself  at  the  tiller — yoke-lines 
were  not  used  a  century  since — steered  by  the  top-light  of 
the  Rear-admiral  ;  but  now  the  maze  of  hamper  was  seen 
waving  slowly  to  and  fro  in  the  lurid  heavens,  and  the 
huge  hull  became  visible,  heaving  and  setting,  as  if  the 
ocean  groaned  with  the  labor  of  lifting  such  a  pile  of  wood 
and  iron.  A  light  gleamed  from  the  cabin-windows,  and 
ever  and  anon  one  glanced  athwart  an  open  gun-room 
port.  In  all  other  respects,  the  ship  presented  but  one 
hue  of  blackness.  Nor  was  it  an  easy  undertaking,  even 
after  the  barge  was  under  the  lee  of  the  ship,  for  those  in 
it  to  quit  its  uneasy  support  and  get  a  firm  footing  on  the 
cleats  that  lined  the  vessel's  side  like  a  ladder.  This  was 
done,  however,  and  all  ascended  to  the  deck  but  two  of  the 
crew,  who  remained  to  hook-on  the  yard  and  stay-tackles. 
This  effected,  the  shrill  whistle  gave  the  word,  and  that 
large  boat,  built  to  carry  at  need  some  twenty  souls,  was 
raised  from  the  raging  water,  as  it  were  by  some  gigantic 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  255 

effort   of   the   ship    herself,    and   safely   deposited  in  her 
bosom. 

"We  are  none  too  soon,  sir,"  said  Stowel,  the  moment  he 
had  received  the  Rear-admiral  with  the  customary  etiquette 
of  the  hour.  "  It's  a  capful  of  wind  already,  and  it  prom 
ises  to  blow  harder  before  morning.  We  are  catted  and 
fished  sir,  and  the  forecastlemen  are  passing  the  shank- 
painter  at  this  moment." 

"  Fill,  sir,  and  stretch  off,  on  an  easy  bowline,"  was  the 
answer  ;  "when  a  league  in  the  offing,  let  me  know  it. 
Mr.  Cornet,  I  have  need  of  you,  in  my  cabin." 

As  this  was  said,  Bluewater  went  below,  followed  by  his 
signal-officer.  At  the  same  instant  the  First  Lieutenant 
called  out  to  man  the  main-braces,  and  to  fill  the  topsail. 
As  soon  as  this  command  was  obeyed,  the  Caesar  started 
ahead.  Her  movement  was  slow,  but  it  had  majesty  in  it, 
that  set  at  naught  the  turbulence  of  the  elements. 

Bluewater  had  paced  to  and  fro  in  his  cabin  no  less  than 
six  times,  with  his  head  drooping,  in  a  thoughtful  attitude, 
ere  his  attention  was  called  to  any  external  object. 

4<  Do  you  wish  my  presence,  Admiral  Bluewater  ?  "  the 
signal-officer  at  length  inquired. 

"  I  ask  your  pardon,  Mr.  Cornet  ;  I  was  really  uncon 
scious  that  you  were  in  the  cabin.  Let  me  see — aye — our 
last  signal  was,  '  Division  come  within  hail  of  Rear- 
admiral.'  They  must  get  close  to  us,  to  be  able  to  do  that 
to-night,  Cornet !  The  winds"  and  waves  have  begun  their 
song  in  earnest." 

"  And  yet,  sir,  I'll  venture  a  month's  pay  that  Captain 
Drinkwater  brings  the  Dover  so  near  us,  as  to  put  the  of 
ficer  of  the  watch  and  quartermaster  at  the  wheel  in  a 
fever.  We  once  made  that  signal,  in  a  gale  of  wind,  and 
he  passed  his  jib-boom-end  over  our  taifrail." 

"  He  is  certainly  a  most  literal  gentleman,  that  Captain 
Drinkwater,  but  he  knows  how  to  take  care  of  his  ship. 
Look  for  the  number  of  *  Follow  the  Rear-admiral's 
motions.'  'Tis  211,  I  think." 

"No,  sir;  but  212.  Blue,  red,  and  white,  with  the 
flags.  With  the  lanterns,  'tis  one  of  the  simplest  signals 
we  have." 

"  We  will  make  it,  at  once.  When  that  is  done  show 
'  The  Rear-admiral  ;  keep  in  his  wake,  in  the  general  order 
of  sailing.'  That  I  am  sure  is  204." 

"  Yes,  sir,  you  are  quite  right.     Shall  I  show  the  second 


256  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

signal  as  soon  as  all  the  vessels  have  answered  the  first, 
sir  ?" 

"  That  is  my  intention,  Cornet.  When  all  have  answered, 
let  me  know  it." 

Mr.  Cornet  now  left  the  cabin,  and  Bluewater  took  a 
seat  in  an  arm-chair,  in  deep  meditation.  For  quite  half 
an  hour  the  former  was  busy  on  the  poop,  with  his  two 
quartermasters,  going  through  the  slow  and  far  from  easy 
duty  of  making  night-signals,  as  they  were  then  practised 
at  sea.  It  was  some  time  before  the  most  distant  vessel, 
the  Dover,  gave  any  evidence  of  comprehending  the  first 
order,  and  then  the  same  tardy  operation  had  to  be  gone 
through  with  for  the  second.  At  length  the  sentinel  threw 
open  the  cabin-door,  and  Cornet  reappeared.  During  the 
whole  of  his  absence  on  deck,  Bluewater  had  not  stirred  ; 
scarce  seemed  to  breathe.  His  thoughts  were  away  from 
his  ships,  and  for  the  first  time,  in  the  ten  years  he  had 
worn  a  flag,  he  had  forgotten  the  order  he  had  given. 

"The  signals  are  made  and  answered,  sir,"  said  Cornet, 
as  soon  as  he  had  advanced  to  the  edge  of  the  table,  on 
which  the  Rear-admiral's  elbow  was  leaning.  "The  Dub 
lin  is  already  in  our  wake,  and  the  Elizabeth  is  bearing 
down  fast  on  our  weather-quarter  ;  she  will  bring  herself 
into  her  station  in  ten  minutes." 

"What  news  of  the  York  and  Dover,  Cornet?"  asked 
Bluewater,  rousing  himself  from  a  fit  of  deep  abstrac 
tion. 

"  The  York's  light  nears  us,  quite  evidently  ;  though 
that  of  the  Dover  is  still  a  fixed  star,  sir,"  answered  the 
Lieutenant,  chuckling  a  little  at  his  own  humor  ;  "  it  seems 
no  larger  than  it  did  when  we  first  made  it." 

"  It  is  something  to  have  made  it  at  all.  I  was  not  aware 
it  could  be  seen  from  deck." 

"  Nor  can  it,  sir  ;  but  by  going  up  half-a-dozen  ratlines 
we  get  a  look  at  it.  Captain  Drinkwater  bowses  up  his 
lights  to  the  gaff-end,  and  I  can  see  him  always  ten  min 
utes  sooner  than  any  other  ship  in  the  fleet  under  the  same 
circumstances." 

"  Drinkwater  is  a  careful  officer ;  do  the  bearings  of  his 
light  alter  enough  to  tell  the  course  he  is  steering  ?" 

"I  think  they  do,  sir,  though  our  standing  out  athwart 
his  line  of  sailing  would  make  the  change  slow,  of  course. 
Every  foot  we  get  to  the  southward,  you  know  sir,  would 
throw  his  bearings  farther  west  ;  while  every  foot  he  comes 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  257 

east  would  counteract  that  change,  and  throw  his  bearings 
farther  south." 

"  That's  very  clear  ;  but,  as  he  must  go  three  fathoms  to 
our  one,  running  off  with  square  yards  before  such  a 
breeze,  I  think  we  should  be  constantly  altering  his  bear 
ings  to  the  southward." 

"No  doubt  of  it,  in  the  world,  sir  ;  and  that  is  just  what 
we  are  doing.  I  think  I  can  see  a  difference  of  half  a  point 
already  ;  but  when  we  get  his  light  fairly  in  view  from  the 
poop,  we  shall  be  able  to  tell  with  perfect  accuracy." 

"  All  very  well,  Cornet.  Do  me  the  favor  to  desire  Cap 
tain  Stowel  to  step  into  the  cabin  ;  and  keep  a  bright 
look-out  for  the  ships  of  the  division.  Stay  for  a  single 
instant ;  what  particularly  sharp-eyed  youngster  happens 
to  belong  to  the  watch  on  deck  ? " 

"  I  know  none  keener  in  that  way  than  Lord  Geoffrey 
Cleveland,  sir  ;  he  can  see  all  the  roguery  that  is  going  on 
in  the  whole  fleet,  at  any  rate,  and  ought  to  see  other  things." 

"  He  will  do  perfectly  well ;  send  the  young  gentleman 
to  me,  sir ;  but  first  inform  the  officer  of  the  watch  that  I 
have  need  of  him." 

Bluewater  was  unusually  fastidious  in  exercising  his 
authority  over  those  who  had  temporary  superiors  on  the 
assigned  duty  of  the  ship  ;  and  he  never  sent  an  order  to 
any  of  the  watch,  without  causing  it  to  pass  through  the 
officer  of  that  watch.  He  waited  but  a  minute  before  the 
boy  appeared. 

"  Have  you  a  good  grip  to-night,  boy  ? "  asked  the  Rear- 
admiral,  smiling;  "or  will  it  be  both  hands  for  yourself 
and  none  for  the  king  ?  I  want  you  on  the  fore-top-gal 
lant-yard,  for  eight  or  ten  minutes." 

"Well,  sir,  it's  a  plain  road  there,  and  one  I've  often 
travelled,"  returned  the  lad,  cheerfully. 

"  That  I  well  know  ;  you  are  certainly  no  skulk  when 
duty  is  to  be  done.  Go  aloft,  then,  and  ascertain  if  the 
lights  of  any  of  Sir  Gervaise's  squadron  are  to  be  seen. 
You  will  remember  that  the  Dover  bears  somewhat  about 
southwest  of  us,  and  that  she  is  still  a  long  way  to  seaward. 
I  should  think  all  of  Sir  Gervaise's  ships  must  be  quite  as 
far  to  windward  as  that  point  would  bring  them,  but  much 
farther  off.  By  looking  sharp  a  point  or  half  a  point  to 
windward  of  the  Dover,  you  may  possibly  see  the  light  of 
the  Warspite,  and  then  we  shall  get  a  correct  idea  of  the 
bearings  of  all  the  rest  of  the  division " 

17 


25 8  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  interrupted  the  boy;  "I  think  I  under 
stand  exactly  what  you  wish  to  know,  Admiral  Blue  water." 

"  That  is  a  natural  gift  at  sixteen,  my  lord,"  returned 
the  Admiral,  smiling  ;  ''but  it  may  be  improved  a  little, 
perhaps,  by  the  experience  of  fifty  years.  Now,  it  is  pos 
sible  Sir  Gervaise  may  have  gone  about  as  soon  as  the 
flood  made  ;  in  which  case  he  ought  to  bear  nearly  to  the 
west  of  us,  and  you  will  also  look  in  that  direction.  On 
the  other  hand,  Sir  Gervaise  may  have  stretched  so  far 
over  toward  the  French  coast  before  night  shut  in,  as  to 
feel  satisfied  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  is  still  to  the  eastward 
of  him  ;  in  which  case  he  would  keep  off  a  little,  and  may, 
at  this  moment,  be  nearly  ahead  of  us.  So  that,  under  all 
circumstances,  you  will  sweep  the  horizon,  from  the  weath 
er-beam  to  the  lee-bow,  ranging  forward.  Am  I  under 
stood,  now,  my  lord  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  think  you  are,"  answered  the  boy,  blushing 
at  his  own  impetuosity.  "You  will  excuse  my  indiscre 
tion,  Admiral  Bluewater  ;  but  I  thought  I  understood  all 
you  desired,  when  I  spoke  so  hastily." 

"No  doubt  you  did,  Geoffrey,  but  you  perceive  you  did 
not.  Nature  has  made  you  quick  of  apprehension,  but 
not  quick  enough  to  foresee  all  an  old  man's  gossip.  Come 
nearer,  now,  and  let  us  shake  hands.  So  go  aloft,  and 
hold  on  well,  for  it  is  a  windy  night,  and  I  do  not  desire 
to  lose  you  overboard." 

The  boy  did  as  told,  squeezed  Bluewater's  hand,  and 
dashed  out  of  the  cabin  to  conceal  his  tears.  As  for  the 
Rear-admiral,  he  immediately  relapsed  into  his  fit  of  for- 
getfulness,  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  Stowel. 

A  summons  to  a  captain  does  not  as  immediately  pro 
duce  a  visit,  on  board  a  vessel  of  war,  as  a  summons  to  a 
midshipman.  Captain  Stowel  was  busy  in  looking  at  the 
manner  in  which  his  boats  were  stowed,  when  Cornet  told 
him  of  the  Rear-admiral's  request  ;  and  then  he  had  to 
give  some  orders  to  the  First  Lieutenant  concerning  the 
fresh  meat  that  had  been  got  off,  and  one  or  two  other 
similar  little  things,  before  he  was  at  leisure  to  comply. 

"  See  me,  do  you  say,  Mr.  Cornet  ;  in  his  own  cabin,  as 
soon  as  it  is  convenient  ?  "  he  at  length  remarked,  when  all 
these  several  offices  had  been  duly  performed. 

The  signal-officer  repeated  the  request,  word  for  word 
as  he  had  heard  it,  when  he  turned  to  take  another  look 
at  the  light  of  the  Dover.  As  for  Stowel,  he  cared  no 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  259 

more  for  the  Dover,  windy  and  dark  as  the  night  promised 
to  be,  than  the  burgher  is  apt  to  care  for  his  neighbor's 
house  when  the  whole  street  is  threatened  with  destruc 
tion.  To  him  the  Caesar  was  the  great  centre  of  attraction, 
and  Cornet  paid  him  off  in  kind  ;  for,  of  all  the  vessels  in 
the  fleet,  the  Caesar  was  precisely  the  one  to  which  he  gave 
the  least  attention  ;  and  this  for  the  simple  reason  that 
she  was  the  only  ship  to  which  he  never  gave,  or  from 
which  he  never  received  a  signal. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Bluff,"  said  Stowel  to  the  First  Lieutenant  ; 
"  one  of  us  will  have  to  be  on  deck  most  of  the  night, 
and  I'll  take  a  slant  below,  for  half  an  hour  first,  and  see 
what  the  Admiral  wishes." 

Thus  saying,  the  Captain  left  the  deck,  in  order  to 
ascertain  his  superior's  pleasure.  Captain  Stowel  was 
several  years  the  senior  of  Bluewater,  having  actually 
been  a  lieutenant  in  one  of  the  frigates  in  which  the  Rear- 
admiral  had  served  as  a  midshipman  ;  a  circumstance  to 
which  he  occasionally  alluded  in  their  present  intercourse. 
The  change  in  the  relative  positions  wras  the  result  of  the 
family  influence  of  the  junior,  who  had  passed  his  senior 
in  the  grade  of  master  and  commander ;  a  rank  that  then 
brought  many  an  honest  man  up  for  life,  in  the  English 
marine.  At  the  age  of  five-and-forty,  that  at  which  Blue- 
water  first  hoisted  his  flag,  Stowel  was  posted,  and  soon 
after  he  was  invited  by  his  old  shipmate,  who  had  once 
had  him  under  him  as  his  first  lieutenant  in  a  sloop  of 
war,  to  take  the  command  of  his  flag-ship.  From  that  day 
down  to  the  present  moment,  the  two  officers  had  sailed 
together,  whenever  they  sailed  at  all,  perfectly  good 
friends  ;  though  the  Captain  never  appeared  entirely  to  for 
get  the  time  when  they  were  in  the  aforesaid  frigate  ;  one 
as-a  gun-room  officer,  and  the  other  only  a  "youngster." 

Stowel  must  now  have  been  about  sixty-five  ;  a  square, 
hard-featured,  red-faced  seaman,  who  knew  all  about  his 
ship,  from  her  truck  to  her  limber-rope,  but  who  troubled 
himself  very  little  about  anything  else.  He  married  a 
widow  when  he  was  posted,  but  was  childless,  and  had 
long  since  permitted  his  affections  to  wander  back  into 
their  former  channels  ;  from  the  domestic  hearth  to  his 
ship.  He  seldom  spoke  of  matrimony,  but  the  little  he 
saw  fit  to  say  on  the  subject  was  comprehensive  and  to 
the  point.  A  perfectly  sober  man,  he  consumed  large 
quantities  of  wine  and  brandy,  as  well  as  of  tobacco,  and 


260  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

never  seemed  to  be  the  worse  for  either.  Loyal  he  was 
by  political  faith,  and  he  looked  upon  a  revolution,  let  its 
object  be  what  it  might,  as  he  would  have  regarded  a 
mutiny  in  the  Caesar.  He  was  exceedingly  pertinacious  of 
his  rights  as  "  captain  of  his  own  ship,"  both  ashore  and 
afloat ;  a  disposition  that  produced  less  trouble  with  the 
mild  and  gentlemanly  Rear-admiral,  than  with  Mrs. 
Stovvel.  If  we  add  that  this  plain  sailor  never  looked  in 
to  a  book,  his  proper  scientific  works  excepted,  we  shall 
have  said  all  of  him  that  his  connection  with  our  tale  de 
mands.  "Good  evening,  Admiral  Bluevvater,"  said  this 
true  tar,  saluting  the  Rear-admiral,  as  one  neighbor  would 
greet  another,  on  dropping  in  of  an  evening,  for  they 
occupied  different  cabins.  "Mr.  Cornet  told  me  you 
would  like  to  say  a  word  to  me  before  I  turned  in ;  if, 
indeed,  turn  in  at  all  I  do  this  blessed  night." 

"  Take  a  seat,  Stowel,  and  a  glass  of  this  sherry,  in  the 
bargain,"  Blue  water  answered,  kindly,  showing  how  well 
he  understood  his  man,  by  the  manner  in  which  he  shoved 
both  bottle  and  glass  within  reach  of  his  hand.  "How 
goes  the  night  ?  and  is  this  wind  likely  to  stand  ?" 

"  I'm  of  opinion,  sir — we'll  drink  his  Majesty,  if  you've 
no  objection,  Admiral  Bluewater — I'm  of  opinion,  we 
shall  stretch  the  threads  of  that  new  main  topsail,  before 
we've  done  with  the  breeze,  sir.  I  believe  I've  not  told 
you,  yet,  that  I've  had  the  new  sail  bent,  since  we  last 
spoke  together  on  the  subject.  It's  a  good  fit,  sir  ;  and, 
close-reefed,  the  sail  stands  like  the  side  of  a  house." 

"  I'm  glad  to  hear  it,  Stowel  ;  though  I  think  all  your 
canvas  usually  appears  to  be  in  its  place." 

"  Why,  you  know,  Admiral  Bluewater,  that  I've  been 
long  enough  at  it,  to  understand  something  about  the  mat 
ter.  It  is  now  more  than  forty  years  since  we  were  in  the 
Calypso  together,  and  ever  since  that  time  I've  borne  the 
commission  of  an  officer.  You  were  then  a  youngster, 
and  thought  more  of  your  joke  than  of  bending  sails,  or 
of  seeing  how  they  would  stand." 

"There  wasn't  much  of  me,  certainly,  forty  years  ago, 
Stowel ;  but  I  well  remember  the  knack  you  had  of  mak 
ing  every  robin,  sheet,  bowline,  and  thread  do  its  duty, 
then,  as  you  do  to-day.  By  the  way,  can  you  tell  me  any 
thing  of  the  Dover,  this  evening?" 

"  Not  I,  sir  ;  she  came  out  with  the  rest  of  us,  I  suppose, 
and  must  be  somewhere  in  the  fleet ;  though  I  dare  say  the 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  261 

log  will  have  it  all,  if  she  has  been  anywhere  near  us,  lately. 
I  am  sorry  we  did  not  go  into  one  of  the  watering-ports,  in 
stead  of  this  open  roadstead,  for  we  must  be  at  least  twenty- 
seven  hundred  gallons  short  of  what  we  ought  to  have,  by 
my  calculation  ;  and  then  we  want  a  new  set  of  light  spars, 
pretty  much  all  round  ;  and  the  lower  hold  hasn't  as  many 
barrels  of  provisions  in  it,  by  thirty-odd,  as  I  could  wish  to 
see  there." 

"  I  leave  these  things  to  you,  entirely,  Stowel  ;  you  will 
report  in  time  to  keep  the  ship  efficient." 

"  No  fear  of  the  Caesar,  sir  ;  for,  between  Mr.  Bluff,  the 
master,  and  myself,  wre  know  pretty  much  all  about  her ; 
though  I  dare  say  there  are  men  in  the  fleet  who  can  tell  you 
more  about  the  Dublin,  or  the  Dover,  or  the  York.  We  will 
drink  theQueen,  and  all  the  royal  family,  if  you  please,  sir." 

As  usual,  Bluewater  merely  bowed,  for  his  companion 
required  no  farther  acquiescence  in  his  toasts.  Just  at  that 
moment,  too,  it  would  have  needed  a  general  order,  at 
least,  to  induce  him  to  drink  any  of  the  family  of  the  reign 
ing  house. 

"Oakes  must  be  well  off,  mid-channel,  by  this  time, 
Captain  Stowel  ? " 

"  I  should  think  he  might  be,  sir  ;  though  I  can't  say  I 
took  particular  notice  of  the  time  he  sailed.  I  dare  say  it's 
all  in  the  log.  The  Plantagenet  is  a  fast  ship,  sir,  and 
Captain  Greenly  understands  her  trim,  and  what  she  can  do 
on  all  tacks  ;  and  yet,  I  do  think  his  Majesty  has  one  ship 
in  this  fleet  that  can  find  a  Frenchman  quite  as  soon,  and 
deal  with  him,  wrhen  found,  quite  as  much  to  the  purpose." 

"  Of  course  you  mean  the  Caesar  ;  well,  I'm  quite  of  your 
way  of  thinking,  though  Sir  Gervaise  manages  never  to  be 
in  a  slow  ship.  I  suppose  you  know,  Stowel,  that  Mon 
sieur  de  Vervillin  is  out,  and  that  we  may  expect  to  see  or 
hear  something  of  him,  to-morrow  ?" 

"Yes,  sir,  there  is  some  such  conversation  in  the  ship,  I 
know  ;  but  the  quantity  of  galley-news  is  so  great  in  this 
squadron,  that  I  never  attend  much  to  wrhat  is  said.  One 
of  the  officers  brought  off  a  rumor,  I  believe,  that  there 
was  a  sort  of  a  row  in  Scotland.  By  the  way,  sir,  there  is 
a  supernumerary  lieutenant  onboard,  and  as  he  has  joined 
entirely  without  orders,  I'm  at  a  loss  howr  to  berth  or  to 
provision  him.  We  can  treat  the  gentleman  hospitably  to 
night  ;  but  in  the  morning  I  shall  be  obliged  to  get  him 
regularly  on  paper." 


262  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

"You  mean  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe  ;  he  shall  come 
into  my  mess  rather  than  give  you  any  trouble." 

"  I  shall  not  presume  to  meddle  with  any  gentleman  you 
may  please  to  invite  into  your  cabin,  sir,"  answered  Stowel, 
with  a  stiff  bow,  in  the  way  of  apology,  "That's  what  I 
always  tell  Mrs.  Stowel,  sir — that  my  cabin  is  my  own,  and 
even  a  wife  has  no  right  to  shake  a  broom  in  it." 

"Which  is  a  great  advantage  to  us  seamen  ;  for  it  gives 
us  a  citadel  to  retreat  to,  when  the  outworks  are  pressed. 
You  appear  to  take  but  little  interest  in  this  civil  war, 
Stowel  !  " 

"Then  it's  true,  is  it,  sir?  I  didn't  know  but  it  might 
turn  out  to  be  galley-news.  Pray  what  is  the  rumpus  all 
about,  Admiral  Bluewater  ?  for  I  never  could  get  that  story 
lidded  properly,  so  as  to  set  up  the  rigging,  and  have  the 
spar  well  stayed  in  its  place." 

"  It  is  merely  a  \var  to  decide  who  shall  be  king  of  Eng 
land  ;  nothing  else,  I  do  assure  you,  sir." 

"  They're  an  uneasy  set  ashore,  sir,  if  the  truth  must  be 
said  of  them  !  We've  got  one  king,  already  ;  and  on  what 
principle  does  any  man  wish  for  more  ?  Now,  there  was 
Captain  Blakely,  from  the  Elizabeth,  on  board  of  me  this 
afternoon  ;  and  we  talked  the  matter  over  a  little,  and 
both  of  us  concluded  that  they  got  these  things  up  much 
as  a  matter  of  profit  among  the  army  contractors,  and  the 
dealers  in  warlike  stores." 

Bluewater  listened  with  intense  interest,  for  here  was 
proof  how  completely  two  of  his  Captains,  at  least,  would 
be  at  his  own  command,  and  how  little  they  would  be 
likelv,  for  a  time,  at  least,  to  dispute  any  of  his  orders. 
He  thought  of  Sir  Reginald,  and  of  the  rapture  with  which 
he  would  have  received  this  trait  of  nautical  character. 

"There  are  people  who  set  their  hearts  on  the  result, 
notwithstanding,"  carelessly  observed  the  Rear-admiral  ; 
"and  some  who  see  their  fortunes  marred  or  promoted, 
by  the  success  or  downfall  of  the  party.  They  think  De 
Vervillin  is  out  on  some  errand  connected  with  this  rising 
in  the  north." 

"  Well,  I  don't  see  what  he  has  got  to  do  with  the  matter 
at  all  ;  for  I  don't  suppose  that  King  Louis  is  such  a  fool 
as  to  expect  to  be  the  king  of  England  as  well  as  king 
of  France  !  " 

"  The  dignity  would  be  too  much  for  one  pair  of  shoul 
ders  to  bear.  As  well  might  one  Admiral  wish  to  command 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  263 

all  the  divisions  of  his  own  fleet,  though  they  were  fifty 
leagues  asunder." 

"  Or  one  Captain  two  ships  ;  or  what  is  more  to  the 
purpose,  sir,  one  ship  to  keep  two  Captains.  We'll  drink 
to  discipline,  if  you've  no  objections,  sir.  'Tis  the  soul  of 
order  and  quiet,  ashore  or  afloat.  For  my  part,  I  want  no 
co-equal — I  believe  that's,  the  cant  word  they  use  on  such 
occasions — but  I  want  no  co-equal,  in  the  Caesar,  and  I 
am  unwilling  to  have  one  in  the  house  at  Greenwich  ; 
though  Mrs.  Stowel  thinks  differently.  Here's  my  ship  ; 
she's  in  her  place  in  the  line  ;  it's  my  business  to  see  she 
is  fit  for  any  service  that  a  first-class  two-decker  can  un 
dertake,  and  the  duty  I  endeavor  to  perform  ;  and  I 
make  no  doubt  it  is  all  the  better  performed  because 
there's  no  wife  or  co-equal  aboard  here.  Where  the  ship 
is  to  go,  and  what  she  is  to  do,  are  other  matters,  which 
I  take  from  general  orders,  or  signals.  Let  them  act  up 
to  this  principle  in  London,  and  we  should  hear  no  more 
of  disturbances,  north  or  south." 

"  Certainly,  Stowel,  your  doctrine  would  make  a  quiet 
nation,  as  well  as  a  quiet  ship.  I  hope  you  do  me  the  jus 
tice  to  think  there  is  no  co-equal  in  my  commands  !  " 

"That  there  is  not,  sir — and  I  have  the  honor  to  drink 
your  health — that  there  is  not.  When  we  were  in  the 
Calypso  together,  I  had  the  advantage,  and  I  must  say 
that  I  never  had  a  youngster  under  me  who  ever  did  his 
duty  more  cheerfully.  Since  that  day  we've  shifted  places  ; 
end  for  end,  as  one  might  say  ;  and  I  endeavor  to  pay  you 
in  your  own  coin.  There  is  no  man  whose  orders  I  obey 
more  willingly  or  more  to  my  own  advantage  ;  always 
excepting  those  of  Admiral  Oakes,  who,  being  commander- 
in-chief,  overlays  us  with  all  his  anchor.  We  must  dowse 
our  peaks  to  his  signals,  though  we  can  maintain,  with 
out  mutinying,  that  the  Caesar  is  as  good  a  boat  on  or  off 
a  wind,  as  the  Plantagenet,  the  best  day  Sir  Jarveys  ever 
saw." 

"  There  is  no  manner  of  doubt  of  that.  You  have  all 
the  notions  of  a  true  sailor,  I  find,  Stowel  ;  obey  orders 
before  all  other  things.  I  am  curious  to  know  how  our 
captains,  generally,  stand  affected  to  this  claim  which  the 
Pretender  has  set  up  to  the  throne." 

"Can't  tell  you,  on  my  soul,  sir  ;  though  I  fancy  few  of 
them  give  themselves  any  great  anxiety  in  the  matter. 
When  the  wind  is  fair  we  can  run  off  large,  and  when  it  is 


264  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

foul  we  must  haul  upon  a  bowline,  let  who  will  reign.  I 
was  a  youngster  under  Queen  Anne,  and  she  was  a  Stuart, 
I  believe  ;  and  I  have  served  under  the  German  family 
ever  since  ;  and  to  be  frank  with  you,  Admiral  Bluewater, 
I  see  but  little  difference  in  the  duty,  the  pay,  or  the  ra 
tions.  My  maxim  is  to  obey  orders,  and  then  I  know  the 
blame  will  fall  on  them  that  give  them,  if  any  thing  goes 
wrong." 

"We  have  many  Scotchmen  in  the  fleet,  Stowel,"  ob 
served  the  Rear-admiral,  in  a  musing  manner,  like  one 
who  rather  thought  aloud  than  spoke.  "  Several  of  the 
captains  are  from  the  North  of  Tweed." 

"  Aye,  sir,  one  is  pretty  certain  of  meeting  gentlemen 
from  that  part  of  the  island,  in  almost  all  situations  in 
life.  I  never  have  understood  that  Scotland  had  much  of 
a  navy  in  ancient  times,  and  yet  the  moment  old  Eng 
land  has  to  pay  for  it,  the  lairds  are  willing  enough  to 
send  their  children  to  sea." 

"  Nevertheless  it  must  be  owned  that  they  make  gallant 
and  useful  officers,  Stowel." 

"No  doubt  they  do,  sir  ;  but  gallant  and  useful  men  are 
not  scarce  anywhere.  You  and  I  are  too  old  and  too  ex 
perienced,  Admiral  Bluewater,  to  put  any  faith  in  the 
notion  that  courage  belongs  to  any  particular  part  of  the 
world,  or  usefulness  either.  I  never  fought  a  Frenchman 
yet  that  I  thought  a  coward  ;  and,  in  my  judgment,  there 
are  brave  men  enough  in  England  to  command  all  her 
ships,  and  to  fight  them  too." 

"  Let  this  be  so,  Stowel,  still  we  must  take  things  as  they 
come.  What  do  you  think  of  the  night  ? " 

"  Dirty  enough  before  morning,  I  should  think,  sir, 
though  it  is  a  little  out  of  rule,  that  it  does  not  rain  with 
this  wind,  already.  The  next  time  we  come-to,  Admiral 
Bluewater,  I  intend  to  anchor  with  a  shorter  scope  of  cable 
than  we  have  been  doing  lately ;  for  I  begin  to  think  there 
is  no  use  in  wetting  so  many  yarns  in  the  summer 
months.  They  tell  me  the  York  brings  up  always  on  forty 
fathoms." 

"That's  a  short  range,  I  should  think,  for  a  heavy  ship. 
But  here  is  a  visitor." 

The  sentinel  opened  the  cabin-door,  and  Lord  Geoffrey, 
with  his  cap  fastened  to  his  head  by  a  pocket-handkerchief, 
and  his  face  red  with  exposure  to  the  wind,  entered  the 
cabin, 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  265 

"Well,"  said  Bluewater,  quietly;  "what  is  the  report 
from  aloft  ? " 

"  The  Dover  is  running  down  athwart  our  forefoot,  and 
and  nearing  us  fast,  sir,"  returned  the  midshipman.  "The 
York  is  close  on  our  weather-beam,  edging  into  her  sta 
tion  ;  but  I  can  make  out  nothing  ahead  of  us,  though  I 
was  on  the  yard  twenty  minutes." 

"  Did  you  look  wrell  on  the  weather-beam,  and  thence 
forward  to  the  lee-bow  ? " 

"  I  did,  sir  ;  if  any  light  is  in  view,  better  eyes  than  mine 
must  find  it." 

Stowel  looked  from  one  to  the  other,  as  this  short  con 
versation  wras  held  ;  but  as  soon  as  there  was  a  pause,  he 
put  in  a  word  in  behalf  of  the  ship. 

"You've  been  up  forward,  my  lord  ?"  he  said. 

"Yes,  I  have,  Captain  Stowel." 

"  And  you  did  not  think  of  seeing  how  the  heel  of  the 
topgallant-mast  stood  it,  in  this  sea  ?  Bluff  tells  me  'tis  too 
loose  to  be  fit  for  very  heavy  weather." 

"  I  did  not,  sir.  I  was  sent  aloft  to  look  out  for  the  ships 
of  the  Commander-in-chief's  division,  and  didn't  think  of 
the  heel  of  the  topgallant-mast's  being  too  loose,  at  all." 

1 '  Aye,  that's  the  way  with  all  the  youngsters,  nowadays. 
In  my  time,  or  even  in  yours,  Admiral  Bluewater,  we  never 
put  our  feet  on  a  ratline,  but  hands  and  eyes  wrere  at  work, 
until  we  reached  the  halting  place,  even  though  it  should 
be  the  truck.  That  is  the  manner  to  know  what  a  ship  is 
"Hi  ad e  of  ! ' 

"  I  kept  my  hands  and  eyes  at  work,  too,  Captain  Stow 
el,  but  it  was  to  hold  on  well,  and  to  look  out  well." 

"  That  will  never  do — that  will  never  do,  if  you  wish  to 
make  yourself  a  sailor.  Begin  with  your  own  ship  first; 
learn  all  about  her,  then,  when  you  get  to  be  an  admiral, 
as  your  father's  son,  my  lord,  will  be  certain  to  become, 
it  will  be  time  enough  to  be  inquiring  about  the  rest  of 
the  fleet.  " 

"  You  forget,  Captain  Stowel " 

"That  will  do,  Lord  Geoffrey,"  Bluewater  soothingly  in 
terposed,  for  he  knew  that  the  Captain  preached  no  more 
than  he  literally  practised  ;  "if  I  am  satisfied  writh  your 
report,  no  one  else  has  a  right  to  complain.  Desire  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe  to  meet  me  on  deck,  where  wre 
will  now  go,  Stowel,  and  take  a  look  at  the  weather  for 
ourselves." 


266  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  With  all  my  heart,  Admiral  Bluewater,  though  I'll 
just  drink  the  First  Lord's  health  before  we  quit  this  excel 
lent  liquor.  That  youngster  has  stuff  in  him,  in  spite  of 
his  nobility,  and  by  fetching  him  up  with  round  turns, 
occasionally,  I  hope  to  make  a  man  of  him,  yet." 

"If  he  do  not  grow  into  that  character,  physically  and 
morally,  within  the  next  few  years,  sir,  he  will  be  the  first 
person  of  his  family  who  has  ever  failed  of  it." 

As  Bluewater  said  this,  he  and  the  Captain  left  his 
cabin  and  ascended  to  the  quarter-deck.  Here  Stowel 
stopped  to  hold  a  consultation  with  his  first  lieutenant, 
while  the  Admiral  went  up  the  poop-ladder,  and  joined 
Cornet.  The  last  had  nothing  new  to  communicate,  and 
as  he  was  permitted  to  go  below,  he  was  desired  to  send 
Wycherly  up  to  the  poop,  where  the  young  man  was 
expected  by  the  Rear-admiral. 

Some  little  time  elapsed  before  the  Virginian  could  be 
found  ;  no  sooner  was  this  effected,  however,  than  he 
joined  Bluewater.  They  had  a  private  conversation  of 
fully  half  an  hour,  pacing  the  poop  the  whole  time,  and 
then  Cornet  was  summoned  back  again  to  his  usual  sta 
tion.  The  latter  immediately  received  an  order  to  acquaint 
Captain  Stowel  the  Rear-admiral  desired  that  the  Caesar 
might  be  hove-to,  and  to  make  a  signal  for  the  Druid  36 
to  come  under  the  flagship's  lee  and  back  her  main  top 
sail.  No  sooner  did  this  order  reach  the  quarter-deck 
than  the  watch  was  sent  to  the  braces,  and  the  main-yard 
was  rounded  in,  until  the  portion  of  sail  that  was  still  set 
lay  against  the  mast.  This  deadened  the  way  of  the  huge 
body,  which  rose  and  fell  heavily  in  the  seas,  as  they 
washed  under  her,  scarcely  large  enough  to  lift  the  burden 
it  imposed  upon  them.  Just  at  this  instant  the  signal 
was  made. 

The  sudden  check  to  the  movement  of  the  Caesar 
brought  the  Dublin  looming  up  in  the  darkness,  when 
putting  her  helm  up,  that  ship  surged  slowly  past  to  lee 
ward,  resembling  a  black  mountain  moving  by  in  the 
gloom.  She  was  hailed  and  directed  to  heave-to,  also,  as 
soon  as  far  enough  ahead.  The  Elizabeth  followed,  clear 
ing  the  flag-ship  by  merely  twenty  fathoms,  and  receiving  a 
similar  order.  The  Druid  had  been  on  the  Admiral's 
weather-quarter,  but  she  now  came  gliding  down,  with 
the  wind  abeam,  taking  room  to  back  her  topsail  under 
the  Caesar's  lee-bow.  By  this  time  a  cutter  was  in  the 


\THE   TIVO  ADMIRALS.  267 

water,  rising  six  or  eight  feet  up  the  black  side  of  the 
ship,  and  sinking  as  low  apparently  beneath  her  bottom. 
Next,  Wycherly  reported  himself  ready  to  proceed. 

"You  will  not  forget,  sir,"  said  Bluewater,  "any. part  of 
my  commission  ;  but  inform  the  Commander-in-chief  of 
the  whole.  It  may  be  important  that  we  understand 
each  other  fully.  You  will  also  hand  him  this  letter 
which  I  have  hastily  written  while  the  boat  was  getting 
ready." 

"  I  think  I  understand  your  wishes,  sir — at  least,  I  hope 
so  ;  and  I  will  endeavor  to  execute  them." 

"God  bless  you,  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,"  added 
Bluewater,  with  emotion.  "We  may  never  meet  again, 
we  sailors  carry  uncertain  lives  ;  and  we  may  be  said  to 
carry  them  in  our  hands." 

Wycherly  took  his  leave  of  the  Admiral,  and  he  ran 
down  the  poop-ladder  to  descend  into  the  boat.  Twice  he 
paused  on  the  quarter-deck,  however,  in  the  manner  of 
one  who  felt  disposed  to  return  and  ask  some  explanation ; 
but  each  time  he  moved  on,  decided  to  proceed. 

It  needed  all  the  agility  of  our  young  sailor  to  get  safely 
into  the  boat.  This  done,  the  oars  fell  and  the  cutter  was 
driven  swiftly  away  to  leeward.  In  a  few  minutes,  it  shot 
beneath  the  lee  of  the  frigate,  and  discharged  its  freight. 
Wycherly  could  not  have  been  three  minutes  on  the  deck 
of  the  Druid  ere  her  yards  were  braced  up,  and  her  top 
sail  filled  with  a  heavy  flap.  This  caused  her  to  draw 
slowly  ahead. 

Five  minutes  later,  however,  a  white  cloud  was  seen 
dimly  fluttering  over  her  hull,  and  the  reefed  mainsail  was 
distended  to  the  wind.  The  effect  was  so  instantaneous 
that  the  frigate  seemed  to  glide  away  from  the  flag-ship, 
and  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  under  her  three  topsails 
double-reefed,  and  her  course,  she  was  a  mile  distant  on 
her  weather-bow.  Those  who  watched  her  movements 
without  understanding  them,  observed  that  she  lowered 
her  light  and  appeared  to  detach  herself  from  the  rest  of 
the  division. 

It  was  some  time  before  the  Caesar's  boat  was  enabled 
to  pull  up  against  the  tide,  wind,  and  sea.  When  this 
hard  task  was  successfully  accomplished,  the  ship  filled, 
passed  the  Dublin  and  Elizabeth,  and  resumed  her  place 
in  the  line. 

Bluewater  paced  the  poop  an  hour  longer,  having  dis~ 


268  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

missed  his  signal-officer  and  the  quarter-masters  to  their 
hammocks.  Even  Stowel  had  turned  in,  nor  did  Mr.  Bluff 
deem  it  necessary  to  remain  on  deck  any  longer.  At  the 
end  of  the  hour,  the  Rear-admiral  bethought  him  of  retir 
ing  too.  Before  he  quitted  the  poop,  however,  he  stood 
at  the  weather-ladder,  holding  on  to  the  mizzen  rigging, 
and  gazing  at  the  scene. 

The  wind  had  increased,  as  had  the  sea,  but  it  was  not 
yet  a  gale.  The  York  had  long  before  hauled  up  in  her 
station,  a  cable's  length  ahead  of  the  Caesar,  and  was 
standing  on,  under  the  same  canvas  as  the  flag-ship,  look 
ing  stately  and  black.  The  Dover  was  just  shooting 
into  her  berth,  under  the  standing  sailing-orders,  at  the 
same  distance  ahead  of  the  York  ;  visible,  but  much  less 
distinct  and  imposing.  The  sloop  and  the  cutter  wyere 
running  along,  under  the  lee  of  the  heavy  ships,  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  distant,  each  vessel  keeping  her  relative  position, 
by  close  attention  to  her  canvas.  Farther  than  this,  noth 
ing  was  in  sight.  The  sea  had  that  wild  mixture  of  bright 
ness  and  gloom,  which  belongs  to  the  element  when  much 
agitated  in  a  dark  night,  while  the  heavens  were  murky 
and  threatening. 

Within  the  ship,  all  was  still.  Here  and  there  a  lantern 
threw  its  wavering  light  around,  but  the  shadow's  of  the 
masts  and  guns,  and  other  objects,  rendered  this  relief  to 
the  night  trifling.  The  Lieutenant  of  the  watch  paced  the 
weather  side  of  the  quarter-deck,  silent  but  attentive. 
Occasionally  he  hailed  the  lookouts,  and  admonished  them 
to  be  vigilant,  also,  and  at  each  turn  he  glanced  upward 
to  see  how  the  topsail  stood.  Four  orfive  old  and  thought 
ful  seamen  walked  the  waist  and  forecastle,  but  most  of 
the  watch  were  stowed  between  the  guns,  or  in  the  best 
places  they  could  find,  under  the  lee  of  the  bulwarks,  catch 
ing  cat's  naps.  This  was  an  indulgence  denied  the  young 
gentlemen,  of  whom  one  was  on  the  forecastle,  leaning 
against  the  mast,  dreaming  of  home,  one  in  the  waist,  sup 
porting  the  nettings,  and  one  walking  the  lee  side  of  the 
quarter  deck,  his  eyes  shut,  his  thoughts  confused,  and  his 
footing  uncertain.  As  Bluewater  stepped  on  the  quarter 
deck  ladder,  to  descend  to  his  own  cabin,  the  youngster 
hit  his  foot  against  an  eye-bolt,  and  fetched  away  plump 
up  against  his  superior.  Bluewater  caught  the  lad  in  his 
arms,  and  saved  him  from  a  fall,  setting  him  fairly  on  his 
feet  before  he  let  him  go. 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  269 

"Tis  seven  bells,  Geoffrey,"  said  the  Admiral,  in  an 
undertone.  "  Hold  on  for  a  half-hour  longer,  and  then  go 
dream  of  your  dear  mother." 

Before  the  boy  could  recover  himself  to  thank  his  su 
perior,  the  latter  had  disappeared. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


Yet  notwithstanding,  being  incensed,  he's  flint ; 

As  humorous  as  winter,  and  as  sudden 

As  flaws  congealed  in  the  spring  of  day. 

His  temper,  therefore,  must  be  well  observed. — SHAKESPEARE. 

THE  reader  will  remember  that  the  wind  had  not  be 
come  fresh  when  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  got  into  his  barge 
with  the  intention  of  carrying  his  fleet  to  sea.  A  retro 
spective  glance  at  the  state  of  the  weather  will  become 
necessary  to  the  reader,  therefore,  in  carrying  his  mind 
back  to  that  precise  period  whither  it  has  now  become 
our  duty  to  transport  him  in  imagination. 

The  Vice-admiral  governed  a  fleet  on  principles  very 
different  from  those  of  Bluewater.  While  the  last  left  so 
much  to  the  commanders  of  the  different  vessels,  his  friend 
looked  into  everything  himself.  The  details  of  the  service 
he  knew  were  indispensable  to  success  on  a  larger  scale, 
and  his  active  mind  descended  into  all  these  minutiae,  to 
a  degree  sometimes  that  annoyed  his  captains.  On  the 
whole,  however,  he  was  sufficiently  observant  of  that  for 
midable  barrier  to  excessive  familiarity,  and  that  great 
promoter  of  heart-burnings  in  a  squadron,  naval  etiquette, 
to  prevent  anything  like  serious  misunderstandings,  and 
the  best  feelings  prevailed  between  him  and  the  several 
magnates  under  his  orders.  Perhaps  the  circumstance 
that  he  was  a  fighting  admiral  contributed  to  this  internal 
tranquillity  ;  for  it  has  been  often  remarked  that  armies 
and  fleets  will  both  tolerate  more  in  leaders  that  give  them 
plenty  to  do  with  the  enemy,  than  in  commanders  who 
leave  them  inactive  and  less  exposed.  The  constant  en 
counters  with  the  foe  would  seem  to  let  out  all  the  superflu 
ous  quarrelsome  tendencies.  Nelson,  to  a  certain  extent, 
was  an  example  of  this  influence  in  the  English  marine, 


270  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

Suffren*  in  that  of  France,  and  Preble,  to  a  much  greater 
degree  than  in  either  of  the  other  cases,  in  our  own.  At  all 
events,  while  most  of  his  captains  sensibly  felt  themselves 
less  of  commanders,  while  Sir  Gervaise  was  on  board  or 
around  their  ships,  than  when  he  was  in  the  cabin  of  the 
Plantagenet,  the  peace  was  rarely  broken  between  them, 
and  he  was  generally  beloved  as  well  as  obeyed.  Blue- 
water  was  a  more  invariable  favorite,  perhaps,  though 
scarcely  as  much  respected  ;  and  certainly  not  half  as 
much  feared. 

On  the  present  occasion,  the  Vice-admiral  did  not  pull 
through  the  fleet,  without  discovering  the  peculiar  pro 
pensity  to  which  we  have  alluded.  In  passing  one  of  the 
ships,  he  made  a  sign  to  his  coxwain  to  cause  the  boat's  crew 
to  lay  on  their  oars,  whea  he  hailed  the  vessel,  and  the 
following  dialogue  occurred. 

"  Carnatic,  ahoy  !  "  cried  the  Admiral. 

"  Sir,"  exclaimed  the  officer  of  the  deck,  jumping  on  a 
quarter-deck  gun,  and  raising  his  hat. 

"Is  Captain  Parker  on  board,  sir?" 

"  He  is,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  will  you  see  him,  sir?" 

A  nod  of  the  head  sufficed  to  bring  the  said  Captain 
Parker  on  deck,  and  to  the  gangway,  where  he  could  con 
verse  with  his  superior,  without  inconvenience  to  either. 

"How  do  you  do,  Captain  Parker?" — a  certain  sign  Sir 
Gervaise  meant  to  rap  the  other  over  the  knuckles,  else 
would  it  have  been  "  Parker."  "  How  do  you  do,  Captain 
Parker?  I  am  sorry  to  see  you  have  got  your  ship  too 
much  down  by  the  head,  sir.  She'll  steer  off  the  wind, 
like  a  colt  when  he  first  feels  the  bridle  ;  now  with  his 
head  on  one  side,  and  now  on  the  other.  You  know  I  like 
a  compact  line,  and  straight  wakes,  sir." 

"  I  am  well  aware  of  that,  Sir  Gervaise,"  returned  Par 
ker,  a  gray-headed,  meek  old  man,  who  had  fought  his  way 

*  Suffren,  though  one  of  the  best  sea-captains  France  ever  possessed, 
was  a  man  of  extreme  severity  and  great  roughness  of  manner.  Still,  he 
must  have  been  a  man  of  family,  as  his  title  of  Bailli  de  Suffren  was  de 
rived  from  his  being  a  Knight  of  Malta.  It  was  a  singular  circumstance 
connected  with  the  death  of  this  distinguished  officer,  which  occurred  not 
long  before  the  French  revolution,  that  he  disappeared  in  an  extraordinary 
manner,  and  is  buried  no  one  knows  where.  It  is  supposed  that  he  was 
killed  by  one  of  his  own  officers,  in  a  renconter  in  the  streets  of  Paris,  at 
night,  and  that  the  influence  of  the  friends  of  the  victor  was  sufficiently 
great  to  suppress  inquiry.  The  cause  of  the  quarrel  is  attributed  to  harsh 
treatment  in  service. 


THE   TWO  ADMIRJity  271 

up  from  the  forecastle  to  his  present  honor.tbte  station, 
and  who,  though  brave  as  a  lion  before  the  enemy,  had  a 
particular  dread  of.  all  his  commanders;  "but  we  have 
have  been  obliged  to  use  more  water  aft  than  we  could 
wish,  on  account  of  the  tiers.  We  shall  coil  away  the 
cables  anew,  and  come  at  some  of  the  leaguers  forward, 
and  bring  all  right  again,  in  a  week,  I  hope,  sir." 

"A  week?  the  d 1,  sir;  that  will  never  do,  when  I 

expect  to  see  De  Vervillin  to-morrow.  Fill  all  your 
empty  casks  aft  with  salt-water,  immediately  ;  and  if  that 
won't  do,  shift  some  of  your  shot  forward.  I  know  that 
craft  of  yours  well ;  she  is  tender  as  a  fellow  with  corns, 
and  the  shoe  mustn't  pinch  anywhere." 

"  Very  well,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  the  ship  shall  be  brought  in 
trim,  as  soon  as  possible." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,  that  is  what  I  expect  from  every  vessel, 
at  all  times  ;  and  more  especially  when  we  are  ready  to 
meet  an  enemy.  And,  I  say,  Parker," — making  a  sign  to 
his  boat's  crew  to  stop  rowing  again — "I  say,  Parker,  I 
know  you  love  brawn  ;  I'll  send  you  some  that  Galleygo 
tells  me  he  has  picked  up,  along-shore  here,  as  soon  as  I 
get  aboard.  The  fellow  has  been  robbing  all  the  hen 
roosts  in  Devonshire,  by  his  own  account  of  the  matter." 

Sir  Gervaise  waved  his  hand,  Parker  smiled  and  bowed 
his  thanks,  and  the  two  parted  with  feelings  of  perfect 
kindness,  notwithstanding  the  little  skirmish  with  which 
the  interview  had  commenced. 

"Mr.  Williamson,"  said  Captain  Parker  to  his  first 
lieutenant,  on  quitting  the  gangway,  "you  hear  what  the 
commander-in-chief  says  ;  and  he  must  be  obeyed.  I  don't 
think  that  Carnatic  would  have  sheered  out  of  the  line, 
even  if  she  is  a  little  by  the  head  ;  but  have  the  empty 
casks  filled,  and  bringing  her  down  six  inches  more  by  the 
stern." 

"That's  a  good  fellow,  that  old  Parker,"  said  Sir  Ger 
vaise  to  his  purser,  whom  he  was  carrying  off  good- 
naturedly  to  the  ship,  lest  he  might  lose  his  passage  ;  "  and 
I  wonder  how  he  let  his  ship  get  her  nose  under  water,  in 
that  fashion.  I  like  to  have  him  for  a  second  astern  ;  for 
I  feel  sure  he'd  follow  if  I  stood  into  Cherbourg,  bows  on ! 
Yes  ;  a  good  fellow  is  Parker  ;  and,  Locker  " — to  his  own 
man,  who  was  also  in  the  boat — "  mind  you  send  him  two 
of  the  best  pieces  of  that  brawn — hey  !  hey  !  hey  !  what 
the  d 1  has  Lord  Morganic  " — a  descendant  from  royalty 


272  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

by  the  left  hand — "been  doing  now!  That  ship  is  kept 
like  a  tailor's  lay  figure,  just  to  stuff  jackets  andgimcracks 
on  her — Achilles,  there  !  " 

A  quartermaster  ran  to  the  edge  of  the  poop,  and  then 
turning,  he  spoke  to  his  captain,  who  was  walking  the 
deck,  and  informed  him  that  the  Commander-in-chief  hailed 
the  ship.  The  Earl  of  Morganic,  a  young  man  of  four- 
and-twenty,  who  had  succeeded  to  the  title  a  few  years 
before  by  the  death  of  an  elder  brother — the  usual  process 
by  which  an  old  peer  is  brought  into  the  British  navy,  the 
work  being  too  discouraging  for  those  who  have  fortune 
before  their  eyes  from  the  start — now  advanced  to  the 
quarter  of  the  ship,  bowed  with  respectful  ease,  and  spoke 
with  a  self-possession  that  not  one  of  the  old  commanders 
of  the  fleet  would  have  dared  to  use.  In  general,  this  no 
bleman's  intercourse  with  his  superiors  in  naval  rank,  be 
trayed  the  consciousness  of  his  own  superiority  in  civil 
rank  ;  but  Sir  Gervaise  being  of  an  old  family,  and  quite 
as  rich  as  he  was  himself,  the  Vice-admiral  commanded 
more  of  his  homage  than  was  customary.  His  ship  was 
full  of  "nobs,"  as  they  term  it  in  the  British  navy,  or  the 
sons  and  relatives  of  nobles  ;  and  it  was  by  no  means  an 
uncommon  thing  for  her  messes  to  have  their  jokes  at  the 
expense  of  even  flag-officers,  who  were  believed  to  be  a 
little  ignorant  of  the  peculiar  sensibilities  that  are  rightly 
enough  imagined  to  characterize  social  station. 

"  Good  morning,  Sir  Gervaise,"  called  out  this  noble 
captain;  "  I'm  glad  to  see  you  looking  so  well,  after  our 
long  cruise  in  the  bay ;  I  intended  to  have  the  honor  to 
inquire  after  your  health  in  person,  this  morning,  but  they 
told  me  you  slept  out  of  the  ship.  We  shall  have  to  hold 
a  court  on  you,  sir,  if  you  fall  much  into  that  habit  !" 

All  within  hearing  smiled,  even  to  the  rough  old  tars, 
who  were  astraddle  of  the  yards  ;  and  even  Sir  Gervaise's 
lip  curled  a  little,  though  he  was  not  exactly  in  a  joking 
humor. 

"Come,  come,  Morganic,  do  you  let  my  habits  alone, 
and  look  out  for  your  own  fore-topmast.  Why,  in  the 
name  of  seamanship,  is  that  spar  stayed  forward  in  such  a 
fashion,  looking  like  a  xebec's  foremast?" 

"  Do  you  dislike  it,  Sir  Gervaise  ?  Now  to  our  fancies 
aboard  here,  it  gives  the  Achilles  a  knowing  look,  and  we 
hope  to  set  a  fashion.  By  carrying  the  head-sails  well 
forward,  we  help  the  ship  round  in  a  sea,  you  know,  sir." 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  273 

"Indeed,  I  know  no  such  thing,  my  lord.  What  you 
gain  after  being  taken  aback,  you  lose  in  coming  to  the 
wind.  If  I  had  a  pair  of  scales  suitable  to  such  a  purpose, 
I  would  have  all  that  hamper  you  have  stayed  away  yon^ 
der  over  your  bows,  on  the  end  of  such  a  long  lever, 
weighed,  in  order  that  you  might  learn  what  a  beautiful 
contrivance  you've  invented,  among  you,  to  make  a  ship 

pitch  in  a  head  sea.  Why,  d e,  if  I  think  you'd  lie-to, 

at  all,  with  so  much  stuff  aloft  to  knock  you  off  the  lee 
ward.  Come  up,  everything,  forward  ;  come  up,  every 
thing,  my  lord,  and  bring  the  mast  as  near  perpendicular 
as  possible.  It's  a  hard  matter,  I  find,  to  make  one  of 
your  new-fashioned  captains  keep  things  in  their  places." 

"  Well,  now,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  think  the  Achilles  makes  as 
good  an  appearance  as  most  of  the  other  ships  ;  and  as  to 
travelling  or  working,  I  do  not  know  that  she  is  either  dull 
or  clumsy ! " 

"  She's  pretty  well,  Morganic,  considering  how  many 
Bond  Street  ideas  you  have  got  among  you  ;  but  she'll 
never  do  in  a  head  sea,  with  that  fore-topmast  threatening 
your  knight-heads.  So  get  the  mast  up-and-down,  again, 
as  soon  as  convenient,  and  come  and  dine  with  me,  with 
out  farther  invitation,  the  first  fine  day  we  have  at  sea. 
I'm  going  to  send  Parker  some  brawn  ;  but  I'll  feed  you 
on  some  of  Galleygo's  turtle-soup,  made  out  of  pigs' 
heads." 

"  Thank'ee,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  we'll  endeavor  to  straighten 
the  stick,  since  you  will  have  it  so  ;  though  I  confess  I  get 
tired  of  seeing  everything  to-day  just  as  we  had  it  yes 
terday." 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  that's  the  way  with  the  most  of  these  St. 
James  cruisers,"  continued  the  Vice-admiral,  as  he  rowed 
away.  "  They  want  a  fashionable  tailor  to  rig  a  man-of- 
war,  as  they  are  rigged  themselves.  There's  my  old  friend 
and  neighbor,  Lord  Scupperton — he's  taken  a  fancy  to 
yachting,  lately,  and  when  his  new  brig  was  put  into  the 
water,  Lady  Scupperton  made  him  send  for  an  upholsterer 
from  town  to  fit  out  the  cabin ;  and  when  the  blackguard 
had  surveyed  the  unfortunate  craft,  as  if  it  were  a  country 
box,  what  does  he  do  but  give  an  opinion,  that  *  This  here 
edifice,  my  lord,  in  my  judgment,  should  be  furnished  in 
cottage  style,' — the  vagabond  !  " 

This  story,  which  was  not  particularly  original,  for  Sir 
Gervaise  himself  had  told  it  at  least  a  dozen  times  before, 
18 


274  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

put  the  Admiral  in  a  good  humor,  and  he  found  no  more 
fault  with  his  captains,  until  he  reached  the  Planta- 
genet 

"  Daly,"  said  the  Earl  of  Morganicto  his  first  lieutenant, 
an  experienced  old  Irishman  of  fifty,  who  still  sung  a  good 
song  and  told  a  good  story,  and  what  was  a  little  extraor 
dinary  for  either  of  these  accomplishments,  knew  how  to 
take  good  care  of  a  ship — "  Daly,  I  suppose  we  must  hu 
mor  the  gentleman,  or  he'll  be  quarantining  me,  and  that 
I  shouldn't  particularly  like  on  the  eve  of  a  general  action  ; 
so  we'll  ease  off  forward,  and  set  up  the  strings  aft,  again. 
Hang  me  if  I  think  he  could  find  it  out  if  we  didn't,  so  long 
as  we  kept  dead  in  his  wake  ! " 

"  That  wouldn't  be  a  very  safe  desait  for  Sir  Jarvey,  my 
lord,  for  he's  a  wonderful  eye  for  a  rope  !  Were  it  Admiral 
Blue,  now,  I'd  engage  to  cruise  in  his  company  for  a  week, 
with  my  mizzen-mast  stowed  in  the  hold,  and  there  should 
be  no  bother  about  the  novelty,  at  all  ;  quite  likely  he'd  be 
hailing  us,  and  ask,  '  What  brig's  that  ? '  But  none  of  the 
tricks  will  answer  with  t'other,  who  misses  the  whipping 
off  the  end  of  a  gasket,  as  soon  as  any  first  luff  of  us  all. 
And  so  I'll  just  go  about  the  business  in  earnest  ;  get  the 
carpenter  up  with  his  plumb-bob,  and  set  everything  as 
straight  up-and-down  as  the  back  of  a  grenadier." 

Lord  Morganic  laughed,  as  was  usual  with  him  when  his 
lieutenant  saw  fit  to  be  humorous  ;  and  then  his  caprice  in 
changing  the  staying  of  his  masts,  as  well  as  the  order 
which  countermanded  it,  was  forgotten. 

The  arrival  of  Sir  Gervaise  on  board  his  own  ship  was 
always  an  event  in  the  fleet,  even  though  his  absence  had 
lasted  no  longer  than  twenty-four  hours.  The  effect  is  like 
that  which  is  produced  on  a  team  of  high-mettled  cattle, 
when  they  feel  that  the  reins  are  in  the  hands  of  an  ex 
perienced  and  spirited  coacliman. 

"Good-morning,  Greenly;  good-morning  to  you  all, 
gentlemen,"  said  the  Vice-admiral,  bowing  to  the  quarter 
deck  in  gross,  in  return  for  the  "present-arms,"  and  rat 
tling  of  drums,  and  lowering  of  hats  that  greeted  his 
arrival ;  "a  fine  day,  and  it  is  likely  we  shall  have  a  fresh 
breeze.  Captain  Greenly,  your  sprit-sail-yard  wants  squar 
ing  by  the  lifts  ;  and,  Bunting,  make  the  Thunderer's  sig 
nal  to  get  her  fore-yard  in  its  place,  as  soon  as  possible. 
She's  had  it  down  long  enough  to  make  a  new  one,  instead 
of  merely  fishing  it.  Are  your  boats  all  aboard,  Greenly?" 


THE   TIVO  ADMIRALS.  275 

"All  but  your  own  barge,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  that  is 
hooked  on." 

"  In  with  it,  sir;  then  trip,  and  we'll  be  off.  Monsieur 
de  Vervillin  has  got  some  mischief  in  his  head,  gentlemen, 
and  we  must  go  and  take  it  out  of  him." 

These  orders  were  promptly  obeyed  ;  but,  as  the  manner 
in  which  the  Plantagenet  passed  out  of  the  fleet,  and  led 
the  other  ships  to  sea,  has  been  already  related,  it  is  un 
necessary  to  repeat  it.  There  was  the  usual  bustle,  the 
customary  orderly  confusion,  the  winding  of  calls,  the 
creaking  of  blocks,  and  the  swinging  of  yards,  ere  the  ves 
sels  were  in  motion.  As  the  breeze  freshened,  sail  was 
reduced,  as  already  related,  until,  by  the  time  the  leading 
ship  was  ten  leagues  at  sea,  all  were  under  short  canvas, 
'and  the  appearance  of  a  windy,  if  not  a  dirty  night,  had 
set  in.  Of  course,  all  means  of  communication  between 
the  Plantagenet  and  the  vessel  still  at  anchor  had  ceased, 
except  by  sending  signals  down  the  line ;  but  to  those  Sir 
Gervaise  had  no  recourse,  since  he  was  satisfied  Bluewater 
understood  his  plans,  and  he  then  entertained  no  manner 
of  doubt  of  his  friends  willingness  to  aid  them. 

Little  heed  was  taken  of  anything  astern,  by  those  on 
board  the  Plantagenet.  Every  one  saw,  it  is  true,  that  ship 
followed  ship  in  due  succession,  as  long  as  the  movement 
of  those  in-shore  could  be  perceived  at  all  ;  but  the  great 
interest  centred  on  the  horizon  to  the  southward  and  the 
eastward.  In  that  quarter  of  the  channel  the  French  were 
expected  to  appear,  for  the  cause  of  this  sudden  departure 
was  a  secret  from  no  one  in  the  fleet.  A  dozen  of  the  best 
look-outs  in  the  ship  were  kept  aloft  the  whole  afternoon, 
and  Captain  Greenly,  himself,  sat  in  the  forward  crosstrees, 
with  a  glass,  for  more  than  an  hour,  just  as  the  sun  was 
setting,  in  order  to  sweep  the  horizon.  Two  or  three  sail 
were  made,  it  is  true,  but  they  all  proved  to  be  English 
coasters  ;  Guernsey  or  Jerseymen,  standing  for  ports  in  the 
west  of  England,  most  probably  laden  with  prohibited  ar 
ticles  from  the  country  of  the  enemy.  Whatever  may  be 
the  dislike  of  an  Englishman  for  a  Frenchman,  he  has  no 
dislike  to  the  labor  of  his  hands  ;  and  there  probably  has 
not  been  a  period  since  civilization  has  introduced  the  art 
of  smuggling  among  its  other  arts,  when  French  brandies, 
and  laces,  and  silks,  were  not  exchanged  against  English 
tobacco  and  guineas,  and  that  in  a  contraband  way,  let  it 
be  in  peace  or  let  it  be  in  war.  One  of  the  characteristics 


2j6  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

of  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  was  to  despise  all  petty  means  of 
annoyance  ;  usually  he  disdained  even  to  turn  aside  to 
chase  a  smuggler.  Fishermen  he  never  molested  at  all  ; 
and,  on  the  whole,  he  carried  on  a  marine  warfare,  a  cen 
tury  since,  in  a  way  that  some  of  his  successors  might  have 
imitated  to  advantage  in  our  own  times.  Like  that  high- 
spirited  Irishman,  Caldwell,*  who  conducted  a  blockade 
in  the  Chesapeake,  at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolu 
tion,  with  so  much  liberality  that  his  enemies  actually  sent 
him  an  invitation  to  a  public  dinner.  Sir  Gervaise  knew 
how  to  distinguish  between  the  combatant  and  the  non- 
combatant,  and  heartily  disdained  all  the  money-making 
parts  of  his  profession,  though  large  sums  had  fallen  into 
his  hands,  in  this  way,  as  pure  godsends. 

No  notice  was  taken,  therefore,  of  anything  that  had 
not  a  warlike  look  ;  the  noble  old  ship  standing  steadily 
on  toward  the  French  coast,  as  the  mastiff  passes  the  cur, 
on  his  way  to  encounter  another  animal,  of  a  mould  and 
courage  more  worthy  of  his  powers. 

"Make  nothing  of  'em,  hey,  Greenly  ?"  said  Sir  Ger 
vaise,  as  the  captain  came  down  from  his  perch,  in  conse 
quence  of  the  gathering  obscurity  of  evening,  followed  by 
half-a-dozen  lieutenants  and  midshipmen,  who  had  been 
aloft  as  volunteers.  "  Well  we  know  they  cannot  yet  DC 
to  the  westward  of  us,  and  by  standing  on  shall  be  certain 
of  heading  them  off,  before  this  time  six  months.  How 
beautifully  all  the  ships  behave,  following  each  other  as 
accurately  as  if  Bluewater  himself  were  aboard  each  vessel 
to  con  her  !  " 

''Yes,  sir,  they  do  keep  the  line  uncommonly  well,  con 
sidering  that  the  tides  run  in  streaks  in  the  channel.  I  do 
think  if  we  were  to  drop  a  hammock  overboard,  that  the 
Carnatic  would  pick  it  up,  although  she  must  be  quite 
four  leagues  astern  of  us." 

"  Let  old  Parker  alone  for  that !  I'll  warrant  you,  he  is 
never  out  of  the  way.  Were  it  Lord  Morganic,  now,  in 
the  Achilles,  I  should  expect  him  to  be  away  off  here  on 
our  weather-quarter,  just  to  show  us  how  his  ship  can  eat 
us  out  of  the  wind  when  he  tries  ;  or  away  down  yonder, 
under  our  lee,  that  we  might  understand  how  she  falls  off, 
when  he  don't  try." 

*  The  writer  believes  this  noble-minded  sailor  to  have  been  the  late  Ad 
miral  Sir  Benjamin  Caldwell.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  the  invi 
tation  could  not  be  accepted,  though  quite  seriously  given. 


THE   TirO  ADMIRALS.  277 

"  My  lord  is  a  gallant  officer,  and  no  bad  seaman,  for  his 
years,  notwithstanding,  Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  Greenly, 
who  generally  took  the  part  of  the  absent,  whenever  his 
superior  felt  disposed  to  berate  them. 

"  I  deny  neither,  Greenly,  most  particularly  the  first.  I 
know  very  well,  were  I  to  signal  Morganic  to  run  into 
Brest,  he'd  do  it ;  but  whether  he  would  go  in  ring-tail- 
boom  or  jib-boom  first,  I  couldn't  tell  till  I  saw  it.  Now 
you  are  a  youngish  man  yourself,  Greenly " 

"  Every  day  of  eight-and-thirty,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  a 
few  months  to  spare  ;  and  I  care  not  if  the  ladies  know 
it." 

"  Poh  !  They  like  us  old  fellows,  half  the  time,  as  well 
as  they  do  the  boys.  But  you  are  of  an  age  not  to  feel 
time  in  your  bones,  and  can  see  the  folly  of  some  of  our 
old-fashioned  notions,  perhaps  ;  though  you  are  not  quite 
as  likely  to  understand  the  fooleries  that  have  come  in,  in 
your  own  day.  Nothing  is  more  absurd  than  to  be  experi 
menting  on  the  settled  principles  of  ships.  They  are 
machines,  Greenly,  and  have  their  laws,  just  the  same  as 
the  planets  in  the  heavens.  The  idea  comes  from  a  fish — 
head,  run,  and  helm  ;  and  all  we  have  to  do  is  to  study  the 
fishes  in  order  to  get  the  sort  of  craft  we  want.  If  there  is 
occasion  for  bulk,  take  the  whale,  and  you  get  a  round 
bottom,  full  fore-body,  and  a  clean  run.  When  you  want 
speed,  models  are  plenty — take  the  dolphin,  for  instance — 
and  there  you  find  an  entrance  like  a  wedge,  a  lean  fore- 
body,  and  a  run  as  clean  as  this  ship's  decks.  But  some  of 
our  young  captains  would  spoil  a  dolphin's  sailing,  if  they 
could  breathe  under  water,  so  as  to  get  at  the  poor  devils. 
Look  at  their  fancies  !  The  First  Lord  shall  give  one  of 
his  cousins  a  frigate,  now,  that  is  moulded  after  nature 
itself,  as  one  might  say  ;  with  a  bottom  that  would  put  a 
trout  to  shame.  Well,  one  of  the  first  things  the  lad  does, 
when  he  gets  on  board  her,  is  to  lengthen  his  gaff,  perhaps, 
put  a  cloth  or  two  in  his  mizzen,  and  call  it  a  spanker, 
settle  away  the  peak  till  it  sticks  out  over  his  taff-rail  like 
a  sign-post,  and  then  away  he  goes  upon  a  wind,  with  his 
helm  hard-up,  bragging  what  a  weatherly  craft  he  has,  and 
how  hard  it  is  to  make  her  even  look  to  leeward." 

"I  have  known  such  sailors,  I  must  confess,  Sir  Ger 
vaise  ;  but  time  cures  them  of  that  folly." 

"  That  is  to  be  hoped  ;  for  what  would  a  man  think  of  a 
fish  to  which  nature  had  fitted  a  tail  athwart-ships,  and 


278  THE   TWO   ADMIRALS. 

which  was  obliged  to  carry  a  fin,  like  a  lee-board,  under 
its  lee-jaw,  to  prevent  falling  off  dead  before  the  wind  !  " 

Here  Sir  Gervaise  laughed  heartily  at  the  picture  of  the 
awkward  creature  to  which  his  own  imagination  had  given 
birth  ;  Greenly  joining  in  the  merriment,  partly  from  the 
oddity  of  the  conceit,  and  partly  from  the  docility  with 
which  a  commander-in-chiel's  jokes  are  usually  received. 
The  feeling  of  momentary  indignation  which  had  aroused 
Sir  Gervaise  to  such  an  expression  of  his  disgust  at 
modern  inventions,  was  appeased  by  this  little  success; 
and,  inviting  his  captain  to  supper  with  him— a  substitute 
for  a  dinner — he  led  the  way  below  in  high  good-humor, 
Galleygo  having  just  announced  that  the  table  was  ready. 

The  convives  on  this  occasion  were  merely  the  Admiral 
himself,  Greenly,  and  Atwood.  The  fare  was  substantial, 
rather  than  scientific ;  but  the  service  was  rich  ;  Sir  Ger 
vaise  uniformly  eating  off  of  plate.  In  addition  to  Galley- 
go,  no  less  than  five  domestics  attended  to  the  wants  of 
the  party.  As  a  ship  of  the  Plantagenet's  size  was  reason 
ably  steady  at  all  times,  a  gale  of  wind  excepted,  when 
the  lamps  and  candles  were  lighted,  and  the  group  was 
arranged,  aided  by  the  admixture  of  rich  furniture  with 
frowning  artillery  and  the  other  appliances  of  war,  the 
great  cabin  of  the  Plantagenet  was  not  without  a  certain 
air  of  rude  magnificence.  Sir  Gervaise  kept  no  less  than 
three  servants  in  livery,  as  a  part  of  his  personal  estab 
lishment,  tolerating  Galleygo,  and  one  or  two  more  of  the 
same  stamp,  as  a  homage  due  to  Neptune. 

The  situation  not  being  novel  to  either  of  the  party, 
and  the  day's  work  having  been  severe,  the  first  twenty 
minutes  were  pretty  studiously  devoted  to  the  duty  of 
"restoration,"  as  it  is  termed  by  the  great  masters  of  the 
science  of  the  table.  By  the  end  of  that  time,  however, 
the  glass  began  to  circulate,  though  moderately,  and  with 
it  tongues  to  loosen. 

"Your  health,  Captain  Greenly — Atwood,  I  remember 
you,"  said  the  Vice-admiral,  nodding  his  head  familiarly 
to  his  two  guests,  on  the  eve  of  tossing  off  a  glass  of 
sherry.  "These  Spanish  wines  go  directly  to  the  heart, 
and  I  only  wonder  why  a  people  who  can  make  them 
don't  make  better  sailors." 

"  In  the  days  of  Columbus,  the  Spaniards  had  some 
thing  to  boast  of  in  that  way,  too,  Sir  Gervaise,"  Atwood 
remarked. 


THE   TIVO  ADMIRALS.  279 

"  Aye,  but  that  was  a  long  time  ago,  and  they  have  got 
bravely  over  it.  I  account  lor  the  deficiencies  of  both  the 
French  and  Spanish  marines  something  in  this  way, 
Greenly.  Columbus,  and  the  discovery  of  America, 
brought  ships  and  sailors  into  fashion.  But  a  ship  with 
out  an  officer  fit  to  command  her,  is  like  a  body  without 
a  soul.  Fashion,  however,  brought  your  young  nobles  into 
their  services,  and  men  were  given  vessels  because  their 
fathers  were  dukes  and  counts,  and  not  because  they  knew 
anything  about  them." 

"Is  your  own  service  entirely  free  from  this  sort  of 
favoritism  ?  "  quietly  demanded  the  Captain. 

"  Far  from  it,  Greenly ;  else  would  not  Morganic  have 
been  made  a  Captain  at  twenty,  and  old  Parker,  for  in 
stance,  one  only  at  fifty.  But,  somehow,  our  classes  slide 
into  each  other,  in  a  way  that  neutralizes,  in  a  great  de 
gree,  the  effect  of  birth.  Is  it  not  so,  Atwood?" 

"  Some  of  our  classes,  Sir  Gervaise,  manage  to  slide 
into  all  the  best  places,  if  the  truth  must  be  said." 

11  Well,  that  is  pretty  bold  for  a  Scotchman  !"  rejoined 
the  Vice-admiral,  good-lmmoredly.  "  Ever  since  the  ac 
cession  of  the  house  of  Stuart,  we've  built  a  bridge  across 
the  Tweed  that  lets  people  pass  in  only  one  direction.  I 
make  no  doubt  this  Pretender's  son  will  bring  down  half 
Scotland  at  his  heels,  to  fill  all  the  berths  they  may  fancy 
suitable  to  their  merits.  It's  an  easy  way  of  paying 
bounty — promises." 

"  This  affair  in  the  north,  they  tell  me,  seems  a  little  seri 
ous,"  said  Greenly.  "  I  believe  this  is  Mr.  Atwood's  opinion?" 

"You'll  find  it  serious  enough,  if  Sir  Gervaise's  notion 
about  bounty  be  true,"  answered  the  immovable  secretary. 
"Scotia  is  a  small  country,  but  it's  well  filled  with  'braw 
sperits/  if  there's  an  opening  for  them  to  prove  it." 

"  Well,  well,  this  war  between  England  and  Scotland  is 
out  of  place,  while  we  have  the  French  and  Spaniards  on 
our  hands.  Most  extraordinary  scenes  have  we  had  ashore, 
yonder,  Greenly,  with  an  old  Devonshire  Baronet,  who 
slipped  and  is  off  for  the  other  world,  while  we  were  in 
his  house." 

"  Magrath  has  told  me  something  of  it,  sir  ;  and  he  tells 
me  the  fill-us  null-its — hang  me  if  I  can  make  out  his  gib 
berish,  five  minutes  after  it  was  told  to  me." 

" Filius  nullius,  you  mean;  nobody's  baby — the  son  of 
nobody — have  you  forgotten  your  Latin,  man  ?" 


280  THE   TWO   ADMIRALS. 

"  Faith,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  never  had  any  to  forget.  My 
father  was  a  captain  of  a  man-of-war  before  me,  and  he 
kept  me  afloat  from  the  time  I  was  five,  down  to  the  day 
of  his  death  ;  Latin  was  no  part  of  my  spoon-meat." 

"Aye,  aye,  my  good  fellow,  I  knew  your  father,  and  was 
in  the  third  ship  Irom  him,  in  the  action  in  which  he  fell," 
returnee^  the  Vice-admiral,  kindly.  "Bluewater  was  just 
ahead  of  him,  and  we  all  loved  him,  as  we  did  an  elder 
brother.  You  were  not  promoted  then  ?" 

"No,  sir;  I  was  only  a  midshipman,  and  didn't  happen 
to  be  in  his  own  ship  that  day,"  answered  Greenly,  sensi 
bly  touched  with  this  tribute  to  his  parent's  merit  ;  "but  I 
was  old  enough  to  remember  how  nobly  you  all  behaved 
on  the  occasion.  Well,"  slyly  brushing  his  eye  with  his 
hand,  "Latin  may  do  a  school-master  good,  but  it  is  of 
little  use  on  board  ship.  I  never  had  but  one  scholar 
among  all  my  cronies  and  intimates." 

"And  who  was  he,  Greenly?  You  shouldn't  despise 
knowledge,  because  you  don't  understand  it.  I  dare  say 
your  intimate  was  none  the  worse  for  a  little  Latin  ; 
enough  to  go  through  nullus,  null  a,  null  urn,  for  instance. 
Who  was  this  intimate,  Greenly?" 

"John  Bluewater  ;  handsofhe  Jack,  as  he  was  called; 
the  younger  brother  of  the  Admiral.  They  sent  him  to 
sea,  to  keep  him  out  of  harm's  way  in  some  love  affair ; 
and  you  may  remember  that  while  he  was  with  the 
Admiral  or  Captain  Bluewater,  as  he  was  then,  I  was  one 
of  the  lieutenants.  Although  poor  Jack  was  a  soldier  and 
in  the  guards,  and  he  was  four  or  five  years  my  senior,  he 
took  a  fancy  to  me,  and  we  became  intimate.  He  under 
stood  Latin  better  than  he  did  his  own  interests." 

"  In  what  did  he  fail?  Bluewater  was  never  very  com 
municative  to  me  about  that  brother." 

"There  was  a  private  marriage  and  cross  guardians,  and 
the  usual  difficulties.  In  the  midst  of  it  all,  poor  John 
fell  in  battle,  as  you  know,  and  his  widow  followed  him  to 
the  grave,  within  a  month  or  two.  'Twas  a  sad  story  all 
round,  and  I  try  to  think  of  it  as  little  as  possible." 

"A  private  marriage!"  repeated  Sir  Gervaise,  slowly. 
"Are  you  quite  sure  of  that?  I  don't  think  Bluewater  is 
aware  of  that  circumstance  ;  at  least,  I  never  heard  him 
allude  to  it.  Could  there  have  been  any  issue  ? " 

"No  one  can  know  it  better  than  myself,  as  I  helped  to 
get  the  lady  off,  and  was  present  at  the  ceremony.  That 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  281 

much  I  know.  Of  issue,  I  should  think  there  was  none  ; 
though  the  Colonel  lived  a  year  after  the  marriage.  How 
far  the  Admiral  is  familiar  with  all  these  circumstances  I 
cannot  say,  as  one  would  not  like  to  introduce  the  partic 
ulars  of  a"  private  marriage  of  a  deceased  brother,  to  his 
commanding  officer." 

"  I  am  glad  there  was  no  issue,  Greenly — particular  cir 
cumstances  make  me  glad  of  that.  But  we  will  change 
the  discourse,  as  these  family  disasters  make  one  melan 
choly  ;  and  a  melancholy  dinner  is  like  ingratitude  to  Him 
who  bestows  it." 

The  conversation  now  grew  general,  and  in  due  season, 
in  common  with  the  feast,  it  ended.  After  sitting  the 
usual  time,  the  guests  retired.  Sir  Gervaise  then  went  on 
deck,  and  paced  the  poop  for  an  hour,  looking  anxiously 
ahead,  in  quest  of  the  French  signal  ;  and,  failing  of  dis 
covering  them,  he  was  fain  to  seek  his  berth  out  of  sheer 
fatigue.  Before  he  did  this,  however,  the  necessary  orders 
were  given  ;  and  that  to  call  him,  should  any  thing  out  of 
the  common  track  occur  was  repeated  no  less  than  four 
times. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Roll  on,  thou  deep  and  dark-blue  ocean,  roll ! 

Ten  thousand  fleets  sweep  over  thee  in  vain  ! 
Man  marks  the  earth  with  ruin — his  control 

Stops  with  the  shore  ;  upon  the  wat'ry  plain 
The  wrecks  are  all  thy  deed.— Childe  Harold. 

IT  was  broad  daylight  when  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  next 
appeared  on  deck.  As  the  scene  then  offered  to  his  view, 
as  well  as  the  impression  it  made  on  his  mind,  will  suf 
ficiently  explain  to  the  reader  the  state  of  affairs,  some  six 
hours  later  than  the  time  last  included  in  our  account, 
we  refer  him  to  those  for  his  own  impressions.  The  wind 
now  blew  a  real  gale,  though  the  season  of  the  year  ren 
dered  it  less  unpleasant  to  the  feelings  than  is  usual  in 
wintry  tempests.  The  air  was  even  bland  and  still 
charged  with  the  moisture  of  the  ocean  ;  though  it  came 
sweeping  athwart  sheets  of  foam,  with  a  fury,  at  moments, 
which  threatened  to  carry  the  entire  summits  of  waves 
miles  from  their  beds  in  spray.  Even  the  aquatic  birds 
seemed  to  be  terrified,  in  the  instants  of  the  greatest  power 


282  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

of  the  winds,  actually  wheeling  suddenly  on  their  wings 
and  plunging  into  the  element  beneath  to  seek  protection 
from  the  maddened  efforts  of  that  to  which  they  more 
properly  belonged. 

Still,  Sir  Gervaise  saw  that  his  ships  bore  up  nobly 
against  the  fierce  strife.  Each  vessel  showed  the  same 
canvas,  namely,  a  reefed  foresail  ;  a  similar  sail  over  the 
quarter-deck,  between  the  mizzen  and  main  masts,  and  a 
closed-reefed  main-topsail.  Several  times  that  morning, 
Captain  Greenly  had  thought  he  should  be  compelled  to 
substitute  a  lower  surface  to  the  wind  than  that  of  the  sail 
last  mentioned.  As  it  was  an  important  auxiliary,  how 
ever,  in  steadying  the  ship,  and  in  keeping  her  under  the 
command  of  her  helm,  on  each  occasion  the  order  had 
been  delayed,  until  he  now  began  to  question  whether  the 
canvas  could  be  reduced,  without  too  great  a  risk  to  the 
men  whom  it  would  be  necessary  to  send  aloft.  He  had 
decided  to  let  it  stand  or  blow  away,  as  fortune  might  de 
cide.  Similar  reasoning  left  nearly  all  the  other  vessels 
under  precisely  the  same  canvas. 

The  ships  of  the  Vice-admiral's  division  had  closed  in 
the  night,  agreeably  to  an  order  given  before  quitting  the 
anchorage,  which  directed  them  to  come  within  the  usual 
sailing  distance,  in  the  event  of  the  weather's  menacing  a 
separation.  This  command  had  been  obeyed  by  the  ships 
astern  carrying  sail  hard,  long  after  the  leading  vessels 
had  been  eased  by  reducing  their  canvas.  The  order  of 
sailing  was  :  the  Plantagenet  in  the  van,  and  the  Carnatic, 
Achilles,  Thunderer,  Blenheim,  and  Warspite  following,  in 
the  order  named  ;  some  changes  having  been  made  in  the 
night,  in  order  to  bring  the  ships  of  the  division  into  their 
fighting-stations,  in  a  line  ahead,  the  Vice-admiral  leading. 
The  superiority  of  the  Plantagenet  was  a  little  apparent, 
notwithstanding ;  the  Carnatic  alone,  and  that  only  by 
means  of  the  most  careful  watching,  being  able  to  keep 
literally  in  the  Commander-in-chief's  wrake  ;  all  the  other 
vessels  gradually,  but  almost  imperceptibly,  setting  to  lee 
ward  of  it.  These  several  circumstances  struck  Sir  Ger 
vaise,  the  moment  his  foot  touched  the  poop,  where  he 
found  Greenly  keeping  an  anxious  lookout  on  the  state  of 
the  weather  and  the  condition  of  his  own  ship  ;  leaning  at 
the  same  time  against  the  spanker-boom  to  steady  himself 
in  the  gusts  of  the  gale.  The  Vice-admiral  braced  his  own 
well-knit  and  compact  frame,  by  spreading  his  legs  ;  then 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  283 

he  turned  his  handsome  but  weather-beaten  face  toward 
the  line,  scanning  each  ship  in  succession,  as  she  lay 
over  to  the  wind,  and  came  wallowing  on,  shoving  aside 
vast  mounds  of  water  with  her  bows,  her  masts  describing 
short  arcs  in  the  air,  and  her  hull  rolling  to  windward, 
and  lurching,  as  if  boring  her  way  through  the  ocean. 
Galleygo,  who  never  regarded  himself  as  a  steward  in  a 
gale  of  wind,  was  the  only  other  person  on  the  poop,  whither 
he  went  at  pleasure  by  a  sort  of  imprescriptible  right. 

"Well  done,  old  Planter!"  cried  Sir  Gervaise  heartily, 
as  soon  as  his  eye  had  taken  in  the  leading  peculiarities  of 
the  view.  "  You  see,  Greenly,  she  has  everybody  but  old 
Parker  to  leeward,  and  she  would  have  him  there,  too,  but 
he  would  carry  every  stick  he  has,  out  of  the  Carnatic, 
rather  than  not  keep  his  berth.  Look  at  Master  Mor- 
ganic  ;  he  has  his  main  course  close-reefed  on  the  Achilles, 
to  luff  into  his  station,  and  I'll  warrant  you  will  get  a  good 
six  months'  wear  out  of  that  ship  in  this  one  gale  ;  loosen 
ing  her  knees,  and  jerking  her  spars  like  so  many  whip- 
handles  ;  and  all  for  love  of  the  new  fashion  of  rigging  an 
English  two-decker  like  an  Algerine  xebec  !  Well,  let  him 
tug  his  way  up  to  windward,  Bond  Street  fashion,  if  he 
likes  the  fun.  What  has  become  of  the  Chloe,  Greenly  ? " 

"  Here  she  is,  sir,  quite  a  league  on  our  lee-bow,  look 
ing  out,  according  to  orders." 

"  Aye,  that  is  her  work,  and  she'll  do  it  effectually.  But 
I  don't  see  the  Driver  !  " 

"  She's  dead  ahead,  sir,"  answered  Greenly  smiling  ;  "  her 
orders  being  rather  more  difficult  of  execution.  Her 
station  would  be  off  yonder  to  windward,  half  a  league 
ahead  of  us  ;  but  it's  no  easy  matter  to  get  into  that  posi 
tion,  Sir  Gervaise,  when  the  Plantagenet  is  really  in  earn 
est." 

Sir  Gervaise  laughed  and  rubbed  his  hands,  then  he 
turned  to  look  for  the  Active,  the  only  other  vessel  of  his 
division.  This  little  cutter  was  dancing  over  the  seas,  half 
the  time  under  water,  notwithstanding,  under  the  head  of 
her  mainsail,  broad  off,  on  the  Admiral's  weather-beam  ; 
finding  no  difficulty  in  maintaining  her  station  there,  in 
the  absence  of  all  top-hamper,  and  favored  by  the  low^ness 
of  her  hull.  After  this  he  glanced  upward  at  the  sails  and 
spars  of  the  Plantagenet,  which  he  studied  closely. 

"  No  signs  of  De  Vervillin,  hey,  Greenly  ? "  the  Admiral 
asked,  when  his  survey  of  the  whole  fleet  had  ended.  "  I 


384  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

was  in  hopes  we  might  see  something  of  him,  when  the 
light  returned  this  morning." 

"  Perhaps  it  is  quite  as  well  as  it  is,  Sir  Gervaise,"  return 
ed  the  Captain.  u  We  could  do  little  besides  look  at  each 
other,  in  this  gale,  and  Admiral  Bluewater  ought  to  join 
before  I  should  like  even  to  do  that." 

"  Think  you  so,  Master  Greenly  ?  There  you  are  mis 
taken,  then  ;  for  I'd  lie  by  him,  were  I  alone  in  this  ship, 
that  I  might  know  where  he  was  to  be  found  as  soon  as 
the  weather  would  permit  us  to  have  something  to  say  to 
him." 

These  words  were  scarcely  uttered,  when  the  lookout  in 
the  forward  cross  trees,  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice, 
"  Sail  ho  !"  At  the  next  instant  the  Chloe  fired  a  gun,  the 
report  of  which  was  just  heard  amid  the  roaring  of  the  gale, 
though  the  smoke  was  distinctly  seen  floating  above  the 
mists  of  the  ocean  ;  she  also  set  a  signal  at  her  naked 
mizzen-topgallant-masthead. 

"Run  below,  young  gentleman,"  said  the  Vice-admiral, 
advancing  to  the  break  of  the  poop  and  speaking  to  a  mid 
shipman  on  the  quarter-deck,  "  and  desire  Mr.  Bunting  to 
make  his  appearance.  The  Chloe  signals  us — tell  him  not 
to  look  for  his  knee-buckles." 

A  century  since,  the  last  injunction,  though  still  so 
much  in  use  on  shipboard,  was  far  more  literal  than  it  is 
to-day,  nearly  all  classes  of  men  possessing  the  articles  in 
question,  though  not  invariably  wearing  them  when  at  sea. 
The  midshipman  dove  below,  however,  as  soon  as  the 
words  were  out  of  his  superior's  mouth  ;  and,  in  a  very  few 
minutes,  Bunting  appeared,  having  actually  stopped  on 
the  main-deck  ladder  to  assume  his  coat,  lest  he  might  too 
unceremoniously  invade  the  sacred  precincts  of  the  quar 
ter-deck,  in  his  shirt-sleeves. 

"There  it  is,  Bunting,"  said  Gervaise,  handing  the 
Lieutenant  the  glass  ;  "  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven — 
'A  large  sail  ahead,'  if  I  remember  right." 

"  No,  Sir  Gervaise,  '  sails  ahead  ; '  the  number  of  them  to 
follow.  Hoist  the  answering  flag,  quartermaster." 

"So  much  the  better!  So  much  the  better,  Bunting! 
The  number  to  follow  ?  Well  we'll  follow-  the  number,  let 
it  be  greater  or  smaller.  Come,  sirrah,  bear  a  hand  up 
with  your  answering  flag." 

The  usual  signal  that  the  message  was  understood  was 
now  run  up  between  the  masts  and  instantly  hauled  down 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  285 

again,  the  flags  seen  in  the  Chloe  descending  at  the  same 
moment. 

"  Now  for  the  number  of  the  sails  ahead,"  said  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,  as  he,  Greenly,  and  Bunting,  each  levelled  a  glass  at 
the  frigate,  on  board  which  the  next  signal  was  momen 
tarily  expected.  "  Eleven,  by  George  !  " 

"No,  Sir  Gervaise,"  exclaimed  Greenly,  "I  know  better 
than  that.  Red  above,  and  blue  beneath,  with  the  distin 
guishing  pennant  beneath,  make  fourteen,  in  our  books, 
now  ! " 

"Well,  sir,  if  they  are  forty,  we'll  go  nearer  and  see  of 
what  sort  of  stuff  they  are  made.  Show  your  answering 
flag,  Bunting,  that  we  may  know  what  else  the  Chloe  lias 
to  tell  us." 

This  was  done,  the  frigate  hauling  down  her  signals  in 
haste,  and  showing  a  new  set  as  soon  as  possible. 

"What  now,  Bunting? — what  nowT,  Greenly?"  demanded 
Sir  Gervaise,  a  sea  having  struck  the  side  of  the  ship  and 
thrown  so  much  spray  into  his  face  as  to  reduce  him  to  the 
necessity  of  using  his  pocket-handkerchief,  at  the  very  mo 
ment  he  was  anxious  to  be  looking  through  his  glass. 

"What  do  you  make  of  that,  gentlemen  ?" 

"  I  make  out  the  number  to  be  382,"  answered  Greenly  ; 
"but  what  it  means,  I  know  not." 

"  '  Strange  sails,  enemies,'  "  read  Bunting  from  the  book. 
"  Show  the  answer,  quartermaster." 

"  We  hardly  wanted  a  signal  for  that,  Greenly,  since 
there  can  be  no  friendly  force,  here-away  ;  and  fourteen 
sail  on  this  coast,  always  means  mischief.  What  says  the 
Chloe  next !" 

"  '  Strange  sails  on  the  larboard  tack,  heading  as  fol 
lows.'  " 

"  By  George,  crossing  our  course  !  We  shall  soon  see 
them  from  deck.  Do  the  ships  astern  notice  the  signals  ? " 

"Every  one  of  them,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  the  Cap 
tain  ;  "  the  Thunderer  has  just  lowered  her  answering  flag, 
and  the  Active  is  repeating.  I  have  never  seen  quarter 
masters  so  nimble  ! " 

"  So  much  the  better — so  much  the  better — down  he 
comes  ;  stand  by  for  another." 

After  the  necessary  pause,  the  signal  to  denote  the  point 
of  the  compass  was  shown  from  the  Chloe. 

"  Heading  how,  Bunting  ?  "  the  Vice-admiral  eagerly  in 
quired.  "  Heading, how,  sir  ?" 


286  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

"Northwest-and-by-north,"  or  as  Bunting  pronounced 
it,  "  nor-west-and-by-noathe,  I  believe,  sir,  no,  I  am  mis 
taken,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  it  is  nor-nor-west." 

"  Jammed  up  like  ourselves  hard  on  a  wind  !  This  gale 
comes  directly  from  the  broad  Atlantic,  and  one  party  is 
crossing  over  to  the  north  and  the  other  to  the  south 
shore.  We  must  meet,  unless  one  of  us  run  away — hey, 
Greenly?" 

"  True  enough,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  though  fourteen  sail  is 
rather  an  awkward  odds  for  seven." 

"  You  forget  the  Driver  and  Active,  sir;  we've  nine; 
nine  hearty,  substantial  British  cruisers." 

"  To  wit ;  six  ships  of  the  line,  one  frigate,  a  sloop,  and 
a  cutter"  laying  heavy  emphasis  on  the  two  last  vessels. 

"What  does  the  Chloe  say  now,  Bunting?  That  we're 
enough  for  the  French,  although  they  are  two  to  one  ?" 

"  Not  exactly  that,  I  believe,  Sir  Gervaise.  '  Five  more 
sail  ahead.'  They  increase  fast,  sir." 

"  Aye  at  that  rate,  they  may  indeed  grow  too  strong  for 
us,"  answered  Sir  Gervaise,  with  more  coolness  of  manner  ; 
"  nineteen  to  nine  are  rather  heavy  odds.  I  wish  we  had 
Bluewater  here  ! " 

"  That  is  what  I  was  about  to  suggest,  Sir  Gervaise," 
observed  the  Captain.  "  If  we  had  the  other  division,  as 
some  of  the  Frenchmen  are  probably  frigates  and  cor 
vettes,  we  might  do  better.  Admiral  Blue\vater  cannot  be 
far  from  us  ;  somewhere  down  here,  toward  northeast — or 
nor-nor-east.  By  wearing  round,  I  think  we  should  make 
his  division  in  the  course  of  a  couple  of  hours." 

"  What,  and  leave  to  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  the  advan 
tage  of  swearing  he  frightened  us  away  !  No,  no,  Greenly  ; 
we  will  first  pass  him  fairly  and  manfully,  and  that,  too, 
within  reach  of  shot ;  and  then  it  will  be  time  enough  to 
go  round  and  look  after  our  friends." 

"  Will  not  that  be  putting  the  French  exactly  between 
our  two  divisions,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  give  him  the  advan 
tage  of  dividing  our  force  ?  If  he  stand  far,  on  a  nor-nor- 
west  course,  I  think  he  will  infallibly  get  between  us  and 
Admiral  Bluewater." 

"  And  what  will  he  gain  by  that,  Greenly  ?  What 
according  to  your  notions  of  matters  and  things,  will  be 
the'  great  advantage  of  having  an  English  fleet  on  each 
side  of  him  ?" 

"Not  much,  certainly,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  Greenly, 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  287 

laughing  ;  "  if  these  fleets  were  at  all  equal  to  his  own. 
But  as  they  will  be  much  inferior  to  him,  the  Comte  may 
manage  to  close  with  one  division,  while  the  other  is  so 
far  off  as  to  be  unable  to  assist  ;  and  one  hour  of  a  hot  fire 
may  dispose  of  the  victory." 

"  All  this  is  apparent  enough,  Greenly  ;  yet  I  could 
hardly  brook  letting  the  enemy  go  scatheless.  So  long  as 
it  blows  as  it  does  now,  there  will  not  be  much  fighting, 
and  there  can  be  no  harm  in  taking  a  near  look  at  M.  de 
Vervillin.  In  half  an  hour,  or  an  hour  at  most,  we  must 
get  a  sight  of  him  from  off  deck,  even  with  this  slow  head 
way  of  the  two  fleets.  Let  them  heave  the  log,  and 
ascertain  how  fast  we  go,  sir." 

"  Should  we  engage  the  French  in  such  weather,  Sir 
Gervaise,"  answered  Greenly,  after  giving  the  order  just 
mentioned,  "it  would  be  giving  them  the  very  advan 
tage  they  like.  They  usually  fire  at  the  spars,  and  one 
shot  would  do  more  mischief,  with  such  a  strain  on  the 
masts,  than  half-a-dozen  in  a  moderate  blow." 

"That  will  do  Greenly — that  will  do,"  said  the  Vice- 
admiral,  impatiently  ;  "if  I  didn't  so  well  know  you,  and 
hadn't  seen  you  so  often  engaged,  I  should  think  you  were 
afraid  of  these  nineteen  sail.  You  have  lectured  long 
enough  to  render  me  prudent,  and  we'll  say  no  more." 

Here  Sir  Gervaise  turned  on  his  heel,  and  began  to  pace 
the  poop,  for  he  was  slightly  vexed,  though  not  angered. 
Such  little  dialogues  often  occurred  between  him  and  his 
captain,  the  latter  knowing  that  his  commander's  great 
est  professional  failing  was  excess  of  daring,  while  he  felt 
that  his  own  reputation  was  too  well  established  to  be 
afraid  to  inculcate  prudence.  Next  to  the  honor  of  the 
flag,  and  his  own,  perhaps,  Greenly  felt  the  greatest  in 
terest  in  that  of  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  under  whom  he  had 
served  as  midshipman,  lieutenant,  and  captain  ;  and  this 
his  superior  knew,  a  circumstance  that  would  have  ex 
cused  far  greater  liberties.  After  moving  swiftly  to  and 
fro  several  times,  the  Vice-admiral  began  to  cool,  and  he 
forgot  this  passing  ebullition  of  quick  feelings.  Greenly, 
on  the  other  hand,  satisfied  that  the  just  mind  of  the  Com 
mander-in-chief  would  not  fail  to  appreciate  facts  that  had 
been  so  plainly  presented  to  it,  was  content  to  change  the 
subject.  They  conversed  together  in  a  most  friendly 
manner,  Sir  Gervaise  being  even  unusually  frank  and 
communicative,  in  order  to  prove  he  was  not  displeased, 


288  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

the  matter  in  discussion  being  the  state  of  the  ship  and 
the  situation  of  the  crew. 

"You  are  always  ready  for  battle,  Greenly,"  the  Vice- 
admiral  said,  smiling,  in  conclusion,  "when  there  is  a 
necessity  ;  and  always  just  as  ready  to  point  out  the  inex 
pediency  of  engaging  where  you  fancy  nothing  is  to  be 
gained  by  it.  You  would  not  have  me  run  away  from  a 
shadow,  however ;  or  a  signal ;  and  that  is  much  the  same 
thing ;  so  we  will  stand  on  until  we  make  the  Frenchmen 
fairly  from  off-deck,  when  it  will  be  time  enough  to  deter 
mine  what  shall  come  next." 

"  Sail  ho  !  '*  shouted  one  of  the  lookouts  from  aloft,  a 
cry  that  immediately  drew  all  eyes  toward  the  mizzen- 
topmast-cross-trees,  whence  the  sound  proceeded. 

The  wind  blew  too  fresh  to  render  conversation,  even 
by  means  of  a  trumpet,  easy,  and  the  man  was  ordered 
down  to  give  account  of  what  he  had  seen.  Of  course  he 
first  touched  the  poop-deck,  where  he  was  met  by  the 
Admiral  and  Captain,  the  officer  of  the  watch,  to  whom 
he  properly  belonged,  giving  him  up  to  the  examination 
of  his  two  superiors,  without  a  grimace. 

"  Where-away  is  the  sail  you've  seen,  sir  ? "  demanded 
Sir  Gervaise  a  little  sharply,  for  he  suspected  it  was  no 
more  than  one  of  the  ships  ahead,  already  signalled. 
"  Down  yonder  to  the  southward  and  eastward — hev,  sir 
rah?" 

"  No,  Sir  Jarvey,"  answered  the  topman,  hitching  his 
trousers  with  one  hand,  and  smoothing  the  hair  on  his 
forehead  with  the  other  ;  "  but  out  here,  to  the  nor'ard 
and  wrest'ard,  on  our  weather-quarter.  It's  'none  o'  them 
French  chaps  as  is  with  the  County  of  Fairvillain  " — for 
so  all  the  common  men  of  the  fleet  believed  their  gallant 
enemy  to  be  rightly  named — "  but  is  a  square-rigged 
craft  by  herself,  jammed  up  on  a  wind,  pretty  much  like 
all  on  us." 

"  That  alters  the  matter,  Greenly !  How  do  you  know 
she  is  square-rigged,  my  man?" 

"Why,  Sir  Jarvey,  your  honor,  she's  under  her  fore  and 
main-taw-sails,  close-reefed,  with  a  bit  of  the  mainsail  set, 
as  well  as  I  can  make  it  out,  sir." 

"The  devil  she  is!  It  must  be  some  fellow  in  a  great 
hurry,  to  carry  that  canvas  in  this  blow  !  Can  it  be  pos 
sible*  Greenly,  that  the  leading  vessel  of  Bluewater  is 
heaving  in  sight  ?  " 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  289 

"  I  rather  think  not,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  it  would  be  too  far  to 
windward  for  any  of  his  two-deckers.  It  may  turn  out  to 
be  a  lookout  ship  of  the  French,  got  round  on  the  other 
tack  to  keep  her  station,  and  carrying  sail  hard,  because 
she  dislikes  our  appearance." 

"  In  that  case  she  must  claw  well  to  windward  to  escape 
us  !  What's  your  name,  my  lad — Tom  Davis,  if  I'm  not 
mistaken  ? " 

"No,  Sir  Jarvey,  it's  Jack  Brown;  which  is  much  the 
same,  your  honor.  We's  noways  partic'lar  about  names." 

"  Well,  Jack,  does  it  blow  hard  aloft  ?  So  as  to  give 
you  any  trouble  in  holding  on  ?" 

"Nothing  to  speak  on,  Sir  Jarvey.  A'ter  cruising  a 
winter  and  spring  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  I  looks  on  this  as 
no  more  nor  a  puff.  Half  a  hand  will  keep  a  fellow  in 
his  berth,  aloft." 

"  Galleygo,  take  Jack  Brown  below  to  my  cabin  and 
give  him  a  fresh  nip  in  his  jigger  ;  he'll  hold  on  all  the 
better  for  it." 

This  was  Sir  Gervaise's  mode  of  atoning  for  the  error 
in  doing  the  man  injustice,  by  supposing  he  was  mistaken 
about  the  new  sail,  and  Jack  Brown  went  aloft  devoted  to 
the  commander-in-chief.  It  costs  the  great  and  powerful 
so  little  to  become  popular,  that  one  is  sometimes  so  sur 
prised  to  find  that  any  are  otherwise  ;  but  when  we  re 
member  that  it  is  also  their  duty  to  be  just,  astonishment 
ceases  ;  justice  being  precisely  the  quality  to  which  a  large 
portion  of  the  human  race  are  most  averse. 

Half  an  hour  passed,  and  no  further  reports  were  re 
ceived  from  aloft.  In  a  few  minutes,  however,  the  War- 
spite  signalled  the  Admiral,  to  report  the  stranger  on  her 
weather-quarter,  and,  not  long  after,  the  Active  did  thfe 
same.  Still  neither  told  his  character ;  and  the  course 
being  substantially  the  same,  the  unknown  ship  approached 
but  slowly,  notwithstanding  the  unusual  quantity  of  sail 
she  had  set.  At  the  end  of  the  period  mentioned,  the 
vessels  in  the  southeastern  board  began  to  be  visible  from 
the  deck.  The  ocean  was  so  white  with  foam,  that  it  was 
not  easy  to  distinguish  a  ship,  under  short  canvas,  at  any 
great  distance  ;  but,  by  the  aid  of  glasses,  both  Sir  Ger 
vaise  and  Greenly  satisfied  themselves  that  the  number  of 
the  enemy  at  the  southward  amounted  to  jusftwenty;  one 
more  having  hove  in  sight,  and  been  signalled  by  the  Chloe, 
since  her  first  report.  Several  of  these  vessels,  however, 


290  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

were  small,  and  the  Vice-admiral,  after  a  long  and  anxious 
survey,  lowered  his  glass  and  turned  to  his  Captain  in 
order  to  compare  opinions. 

"Well,  Greenly,"  he  asked,  "what  do  you  make  of  them 
now  ?  According  to  rny  reckoning,  there  are  thirteen  of 
the  line,  two  frigates,  four  corvettes,  and  a  lugger  ;  or 
twenty  sail  in  all." 

"  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  twenty  sail,  Sir  Gervaise, 
though  the  vessels  astern  are  still  too  distant  to  speak  of 
their  size.  I  rather  think  it  will  turn  out  fourteen  of  the 
line  and  only  three  frigates." 

"  That  is  rather  too  much  for  us,  certainly,  without 
Bluewater.  His  five  ships,  now,  and  his  westerly  position, 
would  make  a  cheering  prospect  for  us.  We  might  stick 
by  Mr.  de  Vervillin  until  it  moderated,  and  then  pay  our 
respects  to  him.  What  do  you  say  to  that,  Greenly  ?" 

"  That  is  of  no  great  moment,  Sir  Gervaise,  so  long  as 
the  other  division  is  not  with  us.  But  yonder  are  signals 
flying  on  board  the  Active,  the  Warspite,  and  the  Blen 
heim." 

"  Aye,  they've  something  to  tell  us  of  the  chap  astern 
and  to  windward.  Come,  Bunting,  give  us  the  news." 

"  '  Stranger  in  the  northwest  shows  the  Druid's  num 
ber  ;'  "  the  signal-officer  read  mechanically  from  the  book. 

"  The  deuce  he  does  !  Then  Bluewater  cannot  be  far 
off.  Let  Dick  alone  for  keeping  in  his  proper  place  ;  he 
has  an  instinct  for  a  line  of  battle,  and  I  never  knew  him 
fail  to  be  in  the  very  spot  I  could  wish  to  have  him,  look 
ing  as  much  at  home  as  if  his  ships  had  all  been  built 
there  !  The  Druid's  number!  The  Caesar  and  the  rest  of 
them  are  in  a  line  ahead,  farther  north,  heading  up  well  to 
windward,  even  of  our  own  wake.  This  puts  the  Comte 
fairly  under  our  lee." 

But  Greenly  was  far  from  being  of  a  temperament  as 
sanguine  as  that  of  the  Vice-admiral.  He  did  not  like  the 
circumstance  of  the  Druid's  being  alone  visible,  and  she, 
too,  under  what  in  so  heavy  a  gale,  might  be  deemed  a 
press  of  canvas.  There  was  no  apparent  reason  for  the 
division's  carrying  sail  so  hard,  while  the  frigate  would  be 
obliged  to  do  it,  did  she  wish  to  overtake  vessels  like  the 
Plantagenet  and  her  consorts.  He  suggested,  therefore, 
the  probability  that  the  ship  was  alone,  and  that  her  ob 
ject  might  be  to  speak  them. 

"There   is  something  in   what  you   say,  Greenly,"  an- 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  291 

swered  Sir  Gervaise,  after  a  minute's  reflection  ;  "  and  we 
must  look  into  it.  If  Denham  doesn't  give  us  any  thing 
new  from  the  Count  to  change  our  plans,  it  may  be 
well  to  learn  what  the  Druid  is  after." 

Denham  was  the  commander  of  the  Chloe,  which  ship, 
a  neat  six-and-thirty,  was  pitching  into  the  heavy  seas  that 
now  came  rolling  in  heavilv  from  the  broad  Atlantic,  the 
water  streaming  from  her  hawse-holes,  as  she  rose  from 
each  plunge,  like  the  spouts  of  a  whale.  This  vessel,  it 
has  been  stated,  was  fully  a  league  ahead  and  to  leeward 
of  the  Plantagenet,  and  consequently  so  much  nearer  to 
the  French,  who  were  approaching  from  that  precise 
quarter  of  the  ocean,  in  a  long  single  line,  like  that  of  the 
English,  a  little  relieved,  however,  by  the  lookout  vessels, 
all  of  which,  in  their  case,  were  sailing  along  on  the 
weather-beam  of  their  friends.  The  distance  was  still  so 
great  as  to  render  glasses  necessary  in  getting  any  very 
accurate  notions  of  the  force  and  the  point  of  sailing  of 
Monsieur  de  Vervillin's  fleet,  the  ships  astern  being  yet  so 
remote  as  to  require  long  practice  to  speak  with  any  cer 
tainty  of  their  characters.  In  nothing,  notwithstanding, 
was  the  superior  practical  seamanship  of  the  English  more 
apparent  than  in  the  manner  in  which  these  respective 
lines  were  formed.  That  of  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  was 
compact,  each  ship  being  as  near  as  might  be  a  cable's 
length  distant  from  her  seconds,  ahead  and  astern.  This 
was  a  point  on  which  the  Vice-admiral  prided  himself  ; 
and  by  compelling  his  captains  rigidly  to  respect  their 
line  of  sailing,  and  by  keeping  the  same  ships  and  officers 
as  much  as  possible  under  his  orders,  each  captain  of  the 
fleet  had  got  to  know  his  own  vessel's  rate  of  speed,  and  all 
the  other  qualities  that  were  necessary  to  maintain  her 
precise  position.  All  the  ships  being  weatherly,  though 
some,  in  a  slight  degree,  were  more  so  than  others,  it  was 
easy  to  keep  the  line  in  weather  like  the  present,  the  wind 
not  blowing  sufficiently  hard  to  render  a  fewT  cloths  more 
or  less  of  canvas  of  any  very  great  moment.  If  there  was  a 
vessel  sensibly  out  of  her  place,  in  the  entire  line,  it  was 
the  Achilles  ;  Lord  Morganic  not  having  had  time  to  get 
all  his  forward  spars  as  far  aft  as  they  should  have  been  ; 
a  circumstance  that  had  knocked  him  off  a  little  more 
than  had  happened  to  the  other  vessels.  Nevertheless, 
had  an  air-line  been  drawn  at  this  moment,  from  the  miz- 
zen-top  of  the  Plantagenet  to  that  of  the  Warspite,  it 


292  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

would  have  been  found  to  pass  through  the  spars  of  quite 
half  the  intermediate  vessels,  and  no  one  of  them  all  would 
have  been  a  pistol-shot  out  of  the  way.  As  there  were 
six  intervals  between  the  vessels,  and  each  interval  as 
near  as  could  be  guessed  at  was  a  cable's  length,  the  extent 
of  the  whole  line  a  little  exceeded  three  quarters  of  a  mile. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  French,  though  they  preserved 
a  very  respectable  degree  of  order,  were  much  less  com 
pact,  and  by  no  means  as  methodical  in  their  manner  of 
sailing.  Some  of  their  ships  were  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to 
leeward  of  the  line,  and  the  intervals  were  irregular  and 
ill-observed.  These  circumstances  arose  from  several 
causes,  neither  of  which  proceeded  from  any  fault  in  the 
commander-in-chief,  who  was  both  an  experienced  seaman 
and  a  skilful  tactician.  But  his  captains  were  new  to  each 
other,  and  some  of  them  were  recently  appointed  to  their 
ships  ;  it  being  just  as  much  a  matter  of  course  that  a  sea 
man  should  ascertain  the  qualities  of  his  vessel,  by  famil 
iarity,  as  that  a  man  should  learn  the  character  of  his  wife, 
in  the  intimacy  of  wedlock. 

A.t  the  precise  moment  of  which  we  are  now  writing,  the 
Chloe  might  have  been  about  a  league  from  the  leading 
vessel  of  the  enemy,  and  her  position  to  leeward  of  her 
own  fleet  threatened  to  bring  her,  half  an  hour  later,  within 
range  of  the  Frenchman's  guns.  This  fact  was  apparent 
to  all  in  the  squadron  ;  still  the  frigate  stood  on,  having 
been  placed  in  that  station,  and  the  whole  being  under 
the  immediate  supervision  of  the  commander-in-chief. 

"  Denham  will  have  a  warm  berth  of  it,  sir,  should  he 
stand  on  much  longer,"  said  Greenly,  when  ten  minutes 
more  had  passed,  during  which  the  ships  had  gradually 
drawn  nearer. 

"  I  was  hoping  he  might  get  between  the  mostweatherly 
French  frigate  and  her  line,"  answered  Sir  Gervaise : 
"when  I  think,  by  edging  rapidly  away, .we  could  take  her 
alive,  with  the  Plantagenet." 

"  In  which  case  we  might  as  well  clear  for  action  ;  such 
a  manoeuvre  being  certain  to  bring  on  a  general  engage 
ment." 

"  No,  no,  I'm  not  quite  mad  enough  for  that,  Master 
Telemachus  ;  but  we  can  wait  a  little  longer  for  the  chances. 
How  many  flags  can  you  make  out  among  the  enemy, 
Bunting  ? " 

"  I  see  but  two,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  one  at  the  fore,  and  the 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  293 

other  at  the  mizzen,  like  our  own.  I  can  make  out,  now, 
only  twelve  ships  of  the  line,  too  ;  neither  of  which  is  a 
three-decker." 

"So  much  for  rumor  ;  as  flagrant  a  liar  as  ever  wagged 
a  tongue  !  Twelve  ships  of  two  decks,  and  eight  frigates, 
sloops,  and  luggers.  There  can  be  no  great  mistake  in  this." 

"  I  think  not,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  their  commander-in-chief  is 
in  the  fourth  ship  from  the  head  of  the  line.  His  flag  is 
just  discernible,  by  means  of  our  best  glass.  Aye,  there 
goes  a  signal,  this  instant,  at  the  end  of  his  gaff  ! " 

"  If  one  could  only  read  French  now,  Greenly,"  said  the 
Vice-admiral,  smiling  ;  "  we  might  get  into  some  of  Mr.  de 
Vervillin's  secrets.  Perhaps  it's  an  order  to  goto  quarters 
or  to  clear ;  look  out  sharp,  Bunting,  for  any  signs  of  such 
a  movement.  What  do  you  make  of  it  ?" 

"  It's  to  the  frigates,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  all  of  which  answer, 
while  the  other  vessels  do  not." 

"  We  want  no  French  to  read  that  signal,  sir,"  put  in 
Greenly  ;  "  the  frigates  themselves  telling  us  what  it 
means.  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  has  no  idea  of  letting  the 
Plantagenet  take  any  thing  he  has,  alive." 

This  was  true  enough.  Just  as  the  captain  spoke,  the 
object  of  the  order  was  made  sufficiently  apparent,  by  all 
the  light  vessels  to  windward  of  tiie  French  fleet  bearing 
up  together,  until  they  brought  the  wind  abaft  their  beams, 
when  away  they  glided  to  leeward,  like  floating  objects 
that  have  suddenly  struck  a  swift  current.  Before  this 
change  in  their  course,  these  frigates  and  corvettes  had 
been  struggling  along,  the  seas  meeting  them  on  their 
weather-bows,  at  the  rate  of  about  two  knots  or  rather 
less  ;  whereas  their  speed  was  now  quadrupled,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  the  whole  of  them  had  sailed  through  the  dif 
ferent  intervals  in  their  main  line,  and  had  formed  as  before, 
nearly  half  a  league  leeward  of  it.  Here,  in  the  event  of 
an  action,  their  principal  duties  would  have  been  to  succor 
crippled  ships  that  might  be  forced  out  of  their  allotted 
stations  during  the  combat.  All  this  Sir  Gervaise  viewed 
with  disgust.  He  had  hoped  that  his  enemy  might  have 
presumed  on  the  state  of  the  elements,  and  suffered  his 
light  vessels  to  maintain  their  original  positions. 

k'  It  would  be  a  great  triumph  to  us,  Greenly,"  he  said, 
"  if  Denham  could  pass  without  shifting  his  berth.  There 
would  be  something  manly  and  seamanlike  in  an  inferior 
fleet's  passing  a  superior,  in  such  a  style." 


294  THE    T\VO   ADMIRALS. 

"Yes,  sir,  though  it  might  cost  us  a  fine  frigate.  The 
Count  can  have  no  difficulty  in  fighting  his  weather  main- 
deck  guns,  and  a  discharge  from  two  or  three  of  his  lead 
ing  vessels  might  cut  away  some  spar  that  Denham  would 
miss  sadly,  just  at  such  a  moment." 

Sir  Gervaise  placed  his  hands  behind  his  back,  paced 
the  deck  a  minute,  and  then  said  decidedly  : 

"  Bunting,  make  the  Chloe's  signal  to  wear — tacking  in 
this  sea,  and  under  that  short  canvas,  is  out  of  the  ques 
tion." 

Bunting  had  anticipated  this  order,  and  had  even  vent 
ured  clandestinely  to  direct  the  quartermasters  to  bend  on 
the  necessary  flags  ;  and  Sir  Gervaise  had  scarcely  got  the 
words  out  of  his  mouth,  before  the  signal  was  abroad. 
The  Chloe  was  equally  on  the  alert ;  for  she  too  each  mo 
ment  expected  the  command,  and  ere  her  answering  flag 
was  seen,  her  helm  was  up,  the  mizzen-staysail  down,  and 
her  head  falling  off  rapidly  toward  the  enemy.  This  move 
ment  seemed  to  be  expected  all  round — and  it  certainly 
had  been  delayed  to  the  very  last  moment — for  the  lead 
ing  French  ship  fell  off  three  or  four  points,  and  as  the 
frigate  \vas  exactly  end-on  to  her,  let  fly  the  contents  of 
all  the  guns  on  her  forecastle,  as  well  as  of  those  on  her 
main-deck  as  far  aft  as  they  could  be  brought  to  bear. 
One  of  the  topsail-sheets  of  the  frigate  was  shot  away  by 
this  rapid  and  unexpected  fire,  and  some  little  damage  was 
done  to  the  standing  rigging  ;  but  luckily,  none  of  imme 
diate  moment.  Captain  Denham  was  active,  and  the  in 
stant  he  found  his  topsail  flapping,  he  ordered  it  clewed 
up  and  the  mainsail  loosed.  The  latter  was  set,  close- 
reefed,  as  the  ship  came  to  the  wind  on  the  larboard  tack, 
and  by  the  time  everything  was  braced  up  and  hauled  aft, 
on  that  tack,  the  main-topsail  was  ready  to  be  sheeted 
home,  anewr.  During  the  few  minutes  that  these  evolu 
tions  required,  Sir  Gervaise  kept  his  eye  riveted  on  the 
vessel;  and  when  he  saw  her  fairly  round,  and  trimmed  by 
the  wind  again,  with  the  mainsail  dragging  her  ahead,  to 
own  the  truth,  he  felt  mentally  relieved. 

"  Not  a  minute  too  soon,  Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  the 
cautious  Greenly,  smiling.  "  I  should  not  be  surprised  if 
Denham  hears  more  from  that  fellow  at  the  head  of  the 
French  line.  His  weather  chase-guns  are  exactly  in  a 
range  with  the  frigate,  and  the  two  upper  ones  might  be 
worked,  well  enough." 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  295 

"I  think  not,  Greenly.  The  forecastle  gun,  possibly; 
scarcely  anything  below  it." 

Sir  Gervaise  proved  to  be  partly  right  and  partly  wrong. 
The  Frenchman  did  attempt  a  fire  with  his  main-deck  gun  ; 
but,  at  the  first  plunge  of  the  ship,  a  sea  slapped  up  against 
her  weather-bow,  and  sent  a  column  of  water  through  the 
port,  that  drove  half  its  crew  into  the  lee-scuppers.  In 
the  midst  of  this  water-spout  the  gun  exploded,  the  logger 
head  having  been  applied  an  instant  before,  giving  a  sort 
of  chaotic  wildness  to  the  scene  inboard.  This  satisfied 
the  party  below  ;  though  that  on  the  forecastle  fared  bet 
ter.  The  last  fired  their  gun  several  times,  and  always 
without  success.  This  failure  proceeded  from  a  cause 
that  is  seldom  sufficiently  estimated  by  nautical  gunners  ; 
the  shot  having  swerved  from  the  line  of  sight  by  the  force 
of  the  wind  against  which  it  flew,  two  or  three  hundred 
feet,  by  the  time  it  had  gone  the  mile  that  lay  between  the 
vessels.  Sir  Gervaise  anxiously  watched  the  effect  of  the 
fire,  and  perceiving  that  all  the  shot  fell  to  leeward  of  the 
Chloe,  he  was  no  longer  uneasy  about  that  vessel,  and  he 
began  to  turn  his  attention  to  other  and  more  important 
concerns. 

As  \ve  are  now  approaching  a  moment  when  it  is  neces 
sary  that  the  reader  should  receive  some  tolerably  distinct 
impression  of  the  relative  positions  of  the  two  entire 
fleets,  we  shall  close  the  present  chapter  here  ;  reserving 
the  duty  of  explanation  for  the  commencement  of  a  new 
one. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

All  were  glad, 

And  laughed,  and  shouted,  as  she  darted  on, 
And  plunged  amid  the  foam,  and  tossed  it  high, 
Over  the  deck,  as  when  a  strong,  curbed  steed 
Flings  the  froth  from  him  in  his  eager  race. — PERCIVAL. 

THE  long  twilight  of  a  high  latitude  had  now  ended,  and 
the  sun,  though  concealed  behind  clouds,  had  risen.  The 
additional  light  contributed  to  lessen  the  gloomy  look 
of  the  ocean,  though  the  fury  of  the  winds  and  waves  still 
lent  to  it  a  dark  and  menacing  aspect.  To  windward  there 
were  no  signs  of  an  abatement  of  the  gale,  while  the 
heavens  continued  to  abstain  from  letting  down  their  floods 


296  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

on  the  raging  waters  beneath.  By  this  time,  the  fleet  was 
materially  to  the  southward  of  Cape  la  Hogue,  though  far 
to  the  westward,  where  the  channel  received  the  winds  and 
waves  from  the  whole  rake  of  the  Atlantic,  and  the  seas 
were  setting  in,  in  the  long,  regular  swells  of  the  ocean,  a 
little  disturbed  by  the  influence  of  the  tides.  Ships  as 
heavy  as  the  two-deckers  moved  along  with  groaning 
efforts,  their  bulk-heads  and  timbers  "  complaining,"  to  use 
the  language  of  the  sea,  as  the  huge  masses,  loaded  with 
their  iron  artillery,  rose  and  sunk  on  the  coming  and  re 
ceding  billows.  But  their  movements  were  stately  and 
full  of  majesty  ;  whereas  the  cutter,  sloop,  and  even  the 
frigates,  seemed  to  be  tossed  like  foam,  very  much  at  the 
mercy  of  the  elements.  The  Chloe  was  passing  the  Ad 
miral  on  the  opposite  tack,  quite  a  mile  to  leeward,  and 
yet,  as  she  mounted  to  the  summit  of  a  wave,  her  cut 
water  was  often  visible  nearly  to  the  keel.  These  are  trials 
of  a  vessel's  strength  ;  for,  were  a  ship  always  water-borne 
equally  on  all  her  lines,  there  would  not  be  the  necessity 
which  now  exists  to  make  her  the  well-knit  mass  of  wood 
and  iron  she  is. 

The  progress  of  the  two  fleets  was  very  much  the  same, 
both  squadrons  struggling  along  through  the  billows,  at 
the  rate  of  about  a  marine  league  in  the  hour.  As  no 
lofty  sail  was  carried,  and  the  vessels  were  first  made  in 
the  haze  of  a  clouded  morning,  the  ships  had  not  become 
visible  to  each  other  until  nearer  than  common  ;  and,  by 
the  time  at  which  we  have  now  arrived  in  our  tale,  the 
leading  vessels  were  separated  by  a  space  that  did  not  ex 
ceed  two  miles,  estimating  the  distance  only  on  their  re 
spective  lines  of  sailing  ;  though  there  would  be  about  the 
same  space  between  them  when  abreast,  the  English  being 
so  much  to  windward  of  their  enemies.  Any  one  in  the 
least  familiar  with  nautical  manoeuvres  will  understand  that 
these  circumstances  would  bring  the  van  of  the  French 
and  the  rear  of  their  foes  much  nearer  together  in  passing, 
both  fleets  being  close-hauled. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  as  a  matter  of  course,  watched  the 
progress  of  the  two  lines  with  close  and  intelligent  atten 
tion.  M.  de  Vervillin  did  the  same  from  the  poop  of  Le 
Foudroyant,  a  noble  eighty-guri  ship  in  which  the  flag  of 
vice- amir al  was  flying,  as  it  might  be,  in  defiance.  By  the 
side  of  the  former  stood  Greenly,  Bunting,  and  Bury,  the 
Plantagenet's  first  lieutenant ;  by  the  side  of  the  latter  his 


TITR    Tiro    ADMIRALS.  297 

captaine  do  vaisseau,  a  man  as  little  like  the  caricatures  of 
such  officers  as  a  hostile  feeling  has  laid  before  the  readers 
of  English  literature,  as  Washington  was  like  the  man  held 
up  to  odium  in  the  London  journals  at  the  commence 
ment  of  the  great  American  war.  M.  de  Vervillin  him 
self  was  a  man  of  respectable  birth,  of  a  scientific  educa 
tion,  and  of  great  familiarity  with  ships,  so  far  as  a  knowl 
edge  of  their  general  powers  and  principles  are  concerned; 
but  here  his  professional  excellence  ceased,  all  that  infinity 
of  detail  which  composes  the  distinctive  merit  of  the  prac 
tical  seaman  being,  in  a  great  degree,  unknown  to  him, 
rendering  it  necessary  for  him  to  think  in  moments  of 
emergency  ;  periods  when  the  really  prime  mariner  seems 
more  to  act  by  a  sort  of  instinct  than  by  any  very  intelli- 

fible  process  of  ratiocination.     With  his  fleet  drawn  out 
efore  him,  however,  and  with  no  unusual  demands  on  his 
resources,  this  gallant  >officer  was  an  exceedingly  formid 
able  foe  to  contend  with  in  squadron. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  lost  all  his  constitutional  and  fever 
ish  impatience  while  the  fleets  drew  nigher  and  nigher. 
As  is  not  unusual  among  brave  men,  who  are  naturally 
excitable,  as  the  crisis  approached  he  grew  calmer,  and 
obtained  a  more  perfect  command  over  himself  ;  seeing  all 
things  in  their  true  colors,  and  feeling  more  and  more 
equal  to  control  them.  He  continued  to  walk  the  poop, 
but  it  was  with  a  slower  step  ;  and,  though  his  hands  were 
still  closed  behind  his  back,  the  fingers  were  passive, 
while  his  countenance  became  grave  and  his  eye  thought 
ful.  Greenly  knew  that  his  interference  would  now  be 
hazardous  ;  for  whenever  the  Vice-admiral  assumed  that 
air,  he  literally  became  commander-in-chief ;  and  any  at 
tempt  to  control  or  influence  him,  unless  sustained  by  the 
communication  of  new  facts,  could  only  draw  down  resent 
ment  on  his  own  head.  Bunting,  too,  was  aware  that  "  the 
Admiral  was  aboard,"  as  the  officers,  among  themselves, 
used  to  describe  this  state  of  their  superior's  mind,  and 
was  prepared  to  dischaage  his  own  duty  in  the  most  silent 
and  rapid  manner  in  his  power.  AH  the  others  present 
felt  more  or  less  of  this  same  influence  of  an  established 
character.  • 

"  Mr.  Bunting,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  when  the  distance 
between  the  Plantagenet  and  Le  Temeraire,  the  leading 
French  vessel,  might  have  been  about  a  league,  allowing 
for  the  distance  in  the  respective  lines  of  sailing — "  Mr. 


298  'fITK    TITO   ADMIRALS. 

Bunting,  bend  on  •.  the  signal  for  the  ships  to  go  to 
quarters.  We  may  as  well  be  ready  for  any  turn  of  the 
dice." 

No  one  dared  to  comment  on  this  order  :  it  was  obeyed 
in  readiness  and  silence. 

"Signal  ready,  Sir  Gervaise,"  said  Bunting,  the  instant 
the  last  flag  was  in  its  place. 

"  Run  it  up  at  once,  sir,  and  have  a  bright  lookout 
for  the  answers.  Captain  Greenly,  go  to  quarters,  and 
see  all  clear  on  the  main-deck,  to  use  the  batteries  if 
wanted.  The  people  can  stand  fast  below,  as  I  think  it 
might  be  dangerous  to  open  the  ports." 

Captain  Greenly  passed  off  the  poop  to  the  quarter 
deck,  and  in  a  minute  the  drum  and  the  fife  struck  up  the 
air  which  is  known  all  over  the  civilized  world  as  the 
call  to  arms.  In  most  services  this  summons  is  made  by 
the  drum  alone,  which  emits  sounds  to  which  the  fancy 
has  attached  peculiar  words ;  those  of  the  soldiers  of 
France  being  "  Prend  ton  sac — prend  ton  sac — prend  ton  sac" 
no  bad  representatives  of  the  meaning  ;  but  in  English 
and  American  ships  this  appeal  is  usually  made  in  com 
pany  with  the  notes  of  the  "ear-piercing  fife,"  which  gives 
it  a  melody  that  might  otherwise  be  wanting. 

"Signal  answered  throughout  the  fleet,  Sir  Gervaise," 
said  Bunting. 

No  answer  was  given  to  this  report  beyond  a  quiet  in 
clination  of  the  head.  After  a  moment's  pause,  how 
ever,  the  Vice-admiral  turned  to  his  signal  officer  and 
said  : 

"  I  should  think,  Bunting,  no  captain  can  need  an  order 
to  tell  him  not  to  open  his  lee-lower-deck  ports  in  such  a 
sea  as  this  ?" 

"  I  rather  fancy  not,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  Bunting, 
looking  drolly  at.  the  boiling  element  that  gushed  up  each 
minute  from  beneath  the  bottom  of  the  ship,  in  a  way  to 
appear  as  high  as  the  hammock-cloths.  "The  people 
at  the  main-deck  guns  would  have  rather  a  wet  time  of 
it." 

"  Bend  on  the  signal,  sir,  for  the  ships  astern  to  keep  in 
the  Vice-admiral's  wake.  Young  gentleman,"  to  the  mid 
shipman  who  always  acted  as  his  aid  in  battle,  "  tell  Cap 
tain  Greenly  I  desire  to  see  him  as  soon  as  he  has  received 
all  the  reports." 

Down  to  the  moment  when  the  first  tap  of  the  drum 


THE   TWO 


was  heard,  the  Plantagenet  had 
lar  quiet  and  unconcern, 
in  which  she  was  placed.  A  landsman  could  scarcely 
credit  that  men  could  be  so  near  their  enemies,  and  dis 
play  so  much  indifference  to  their  vicinity  :  but  this 
was  the  result  of  long  habit,  and  a  certain  marine  instinct 
that  tells  the  sailor  when  any  thing  serious  is  in  the  wind, 
and  when  not.  The  difference  in  the  force  of  the  two 
fleets,  the  heavy  gale,  and  the  vveatherly  position  of  the 
English,  all  conspired  to  assure  the  crew  that  nothing  de 
cisive  could  yet  occur. 

Here  and  there  an  officer  or  an  old  seaman  might  be 
seen  glancing  through  a  port,  to  ascertain  the  force  and 
position  of  the  French  ;  but,  on  the  whole,  their  fleet 
excited  little  more  attention  than  if  lying  at  an  char  in 
Cherbourg.  The  breakfast  hour  was  approaching,  and 
that  important  event  monopolized  the  principal  interest  of 
the  moment.  The  officers'  boys,  in  particular,  began  to 
make  their  appearance  around  the  galley,  provided,  as 
usual,  with  their  pots  and  dishes,  and,  now  and  then,  one 
cast  a  glance  through  the  nearest  opening  to  see  how  the 
strangers  looked  ;  but,  as  to  warfare,  there  was  much 
more  the  appearance  of  it  between  the  protectors  of  the 
rights  of  the  different  messes,  than  between  the  two  great 
belligerent  navies  themselves. 

Nor  was  the  state  of  things  materially  different  in  the 
gun-room,  or  cock-pit,  or  on  the  orlops.  Most  of  the 
people  of  a  two-decked  ship  are  berthed  on  the  lower  gun 
deck,  and  the  order  to  "clear  ship"  is  more  necessary  to 
a  vessel  of  that  construction,  before  going  to  quarters 
seriously,  than  to  smaller  craft  ;  though  it  is  usual  in  all. 
So  long  as  the  bags,  mess-chests,  and  other  similar  appli 
ances  were  left  in  their  ordinary  positions,  Jack  saw  little 
reason  to  derange  himself  ;  and  as  reports  were  brought 
below,  from  time  to  time,  respecting  the  approach  of  the 
enemy,  and  more  especially  of  his  being  well  to  leeward, 
few  of  those  whose  duty  did  not  call  them  on  deck  troubled 
themselves  about  the  matter  at  all.  This  habit  of  consider 
ing  his  fortune  as  attached  to  that  of  his  ship,  and  as  re 
garding  himself  as  a  point  on  her  mass,  as  we  all  look  on 
ourselves  as  particles  of  the  orb  we  accompany  in  its  revolu 
tions,  is  sufficiently  general  among  mariners  ;  but  it  was 
particularly  so  as  respects  the  sailors  of  a  fleet,  who  were 
kept  so  much  at  sea,  and  who  had  been  so  often,  with  all 


3oo  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

sorts  of  results,  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy.  The  scene 
that  was  passing  in  the  gun-room  at  the  precise  moment 
at  which  our  tale  has  arrived,  was  so  characteristic,  in  par 
ticular,  as  to  merit  a  brief  description. 

All  the  idlers  by  this  time  were  out  of  their  berths  and 
cots  ;  the  signs  of  those  who  "slept  in  the  country,"  as  it 
is  termed,  or  who  were  obliged,  for  want  of  state-rooms,  to 
sling  in  the  common  apartment  having  disappeared.  Ma- 
grath  was  reading  a  treatise  on  medicine,  in  good  Leyden 
Latin,  by  a  lamp.  The  purser  was  endeavoring  to  decipher 
his  steward's  hieroglyphics,  favored  by  the  same  light,  and 
the  captain  of  marines  was  examining  the  lock  of  an  aged 
musket.  The  third  and  fourth  lieutenants  were  helping 
each  other  to  untangle  one  of  their  Bay-of-Biscay  reckon 
ings,  which  had  set  both  plane  and  spherical  trigonometry 
at  defiance,  by  a  lamp  of  their  own  ;  and  the  Chaplain 
was  hurrying  the  steward  and  the  boys  along  with  the 
breakfast — his  usual  occupation  at  that  "  witching  time  " 
in  the  morning. 

While  things  were  in  this  state,  the  First  Lieutenant, 
Mr.  Bury,  appeared  in  the  gun-room.  His  arrival  caused 
one  or  two  of  the  mess  to  glance  upward  at  him,  though 
no  one  spoke  but  the  junior  lieutenant,  who  being  an 
honorable,  was  at  his  ease  with  every  one  on  board,  short 
of  the  Captain. 

"What's  the  news  from  deck,  Bury  ?"  asked  this  officer, 
a  youth  of  twenty,  his  senior  being  a  man  ten  years  older. 
"  Is  Mr.  de  Vervillin  thinking  of  running  away,  yet  ? " 

"  Not  he,  sir  ;  there's  too  much  of  the  game-cock  about 
him  for  that." 

"  I'll  warrant  you  he  can  crow  !  But  what  is  the  news, 
Bury?" 

"  The  news  is  that  the  old  Planter  is  as  wet  as  a  wash- 
tub,  forward,  and  I  must  have  a  dry  jacket — do  you  hear, 
there,  Tom  ?  Soundings,"  turning  to  the  master,  who 
just  then  came  in  from  forward,  "have  you  taken  a  look 
out  of  doors  this  morning  ?  " 

"You  know  I  seldom  forget  that,  Mr.  Bury.  A  pretty 
pickle  the  ship  would  soon  be  in,  if  I  forgot  to  look  about 
me  !" 

"  He  swallowed  the  deep-sea,  down  in  the  bay,"  cried  the 
honorable,  laughing,  "  and  goes  every  morning  at  daylight 
to  look  for  it  out  at  the  bridle-ports." 

"Well,  then,  Soundings,  what  do  you  think  of  the  third 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  301 

ship  in  the  French  line?"  continued  Bury,  disregarding 
the  levity  of  the  youth  :  "  did  you  ever  see  such  topmasts, 
as  she  carries,  before  ?  " 

"  I  scarce  ever  saw  a  Frenchman  without  them,  Mr. 
Bury.  You'd  have  just  such  sticks  in  this  fleet,  if  Sir  Jarvey 
would  stand  them." 

1  'Aye,  but  Sir  Jarvey  won't  stand  them.  The  captain 
who  sent  such  a  stick  up  in  his  ship,  would  have  to  throw 
it  overboard  before  night.  I  never  saw  such  a  pole  in  the 
air  in  my  life  !  " 

"What's  the  matter  with  the  mast,  Mr.  Bury?"  put  in 
Magrath,  who  kept  up  what  he  called  constant  scientific 
skirmishes  with  the  elder  sea-officers  ;  the  junior  being  too 
inexperienced  in  his  view,  to  be  worthy  of  a  contest. 
"  I'll  engage  the  spar  is  moulded  and  fashioned  agreeably  to 
the  most  approved  pheelosophical  principles  ;  for  in  that 
the  French  certainly  excel  us." 

"Who  ever  heard  of  moulding  a  spar?"  interrupted 
Soundings,  laughing  loudly;  "we  mould  a  ship's  frame, 
Doctor,  but  we  lengthen  and  shorten,  and  scrape  and  fid 
her  masts." 

"I'm  answered  as  usual,  gentlemen,  and  voted  down,  I 
suppose,  by  acclamation,  as  they  call  it  in  other  learned 
bodies.  I  would  advise  no  creature  that  has  a  reason  to 
go  to  sea  ;  an  instinct  being  all  that  is  needed  to  make  a 
lord  high  admiral  of  twenty  tails." 

"  I  should  like  Sir  Jarvey  to  hear  that,  my  man  of  books," 
cried  the  fourth,  who  had  satisfied  himself  that  a  book  was 
not  his  own  forte  ;  "  I  fancy  your  instinct,  Doctor,  will 
prevent  you  from  whispering  this  in  the  Vice-admiral's 
ear ! " 

|,  Although  Magrath  had  a  profound  respect  for  the  Com 
mander-in-chief,  he  was  averse  to  giving  in,  in  a  gunroom 
discussion.  His  answer,  therefore,  partook  of  the  feeling 
of  the  moment. 

"  Sir  Gervaise  "  (he  pronounced  this  word  Jairvis),  "Sir 
Gervaise  Oakes,  honorable  sir,"  he  said,  with  a  sneer, 
"  may  be  a  good  seaman,  but  he's  no  linguist.  Now,  there 
he  was  ashore,  among  the  dead  and  dying,  just  as  ignorant 
of  the  meaning  of  filins  nullius,  which  is  boy's  Latin,  as  if 
he  had  never  seen  a  horn-book  !  Nevertheless,  gentlemen, 
it  is  science,  and  not  even  the  classics,  that  makes  the 
man  ;  as  for  a  creature's  getting  the  sciences  by  instinct,  I 
shall  contend  it  is  against  the  possibilities,  whereas  the  at- 


302  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

tainment  of  what  you  call  seamanship,  is  among  the  lesser 
probabilities."  ' 

"  This  is  the  most  marine-ish  talk  I  ever  heard  from  your 
mouth,  Doctor,"  interrupted  Soundings.  "  How  the  devil 
can  a  man  tell  how  to  wear  ship  by  instinct,  as  you  call  it, 
if  one  may  ask  the  question?" 

"Simply,  Soundings,  because  the  process  of  ratiocina 
tion  is  dispensed  with.  Do  you  have  to  think  in  wearing 
ship,  now  ? — I'll  put  it  to  your  own  honor,  for  the  answer." 

"  Think  !  I  should  be  a  poor  creature  for  a  master,  in 
deed,  if  much  thinking  were  wanting  in  so  simple  a  matter 
as  tacking  or  veering.  No,  no  ;  your  real  sea-dog  has  no 
occasion  for  much  thinking,  when  he  has  his  work  before 
him." 

"That'll  just  be  it,  gentlemen  ! — that'll  be  just  what  I'm 
telling  ye,"  cried  the  Doctor,  exulting  in  the  success  of  his 
artifice.  "Not  only  will  Mr.  Soundings  not  think,  when 
he  has  his  ordinary  duties  to  perform,  but  he  holds  the 
process  itself  in  merited  contempt,  ye'll  obsairve  ;  and  so 
my  theory  is  established,  by  evidence  of  a  pairty  concerned  ; 
which  is  more  than  a  postulate  logically  requires." 

Here  Magrath  dropped  his  book,  and  laughed  with  that 
sort  of  hissing  sound  that  seems  peculiar  to  that  genus  of 
which  he  formed  a  part.  He  was  still  indulging  in  his 
triumph,  when  the  first  tap  of  the  drum  was  heard.  All 
listened  ;  every  ear  pricking  like  that  of  a  deer  that  hears 
the  hound,  when  there  followed,  "  R-r-r-ap-tap — r-r-rap-tap 
— r-r-r-ap-tap  a-tap-tap — rap-a-tap — a-rap-a-tap-a-rap-a-tap 
— a-tap-tap." 

"  I  nstinct  or  reason,  Sir  Jarvey  is  going  to  quarters  ! "  ex 
claimed  the  honorable.  "I'd  no  notion  we  were  near 
enough  to  the  monsieurs,  for  that  !" 

"Now,"  said  Magrath,  with  a  grinning  sneer,  as  he  rose 
to  descend  to  the  cock-pit,  "there'll  maybe  arise  an 
occasion  for  a  little  learning,  when  I'll  promise  ye  all  the 
science  that  can  be  mustered  in  my  unworthy  knowledge. 
Soundings,  I  may  have  to  heave  the  lead  in  the  depth  of 
your  physical  formation,  in  which  case  I'll  just  endeevor  to 
avoid  the  breakers  of  ignorance." 

"  Go  to  the  devil,  or  to  the  cock-pit,  whichever  you 
please,  sir,"  answered  the  master ;  "  I've  served  in  six 
general  actions,  already,  and  have  never  been  obliged  to  one 
of  your  kidney  for  so  much  as  a  bit  of  court-plaster  or  lint. 
With  me,  oakum  answers  for  one,  and  canvas  for  the  other." 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  303 

While  this  was  saying,  all  hands  were  in  motion.  The 
sea  and  marine  officers  looking  for  their  side  arms,  the 
surgeon  carefully  collecting  his  books,  and  the  Chaplain 
seizing  a  dish  of  cold  beef,  that  was  hurriedly  set  upon  a 
table,  carrying  it  down  with  him  to  his  quarters,  byway  of 
taking  it  out  of  harm's  way.  In  a  minute,  the  gunroom 
was  cleared  of  all  who  usually  dwelt  there,  and  their 
places  \vere  supplied  by  the  seamen  who  manned  the  three 
or  four  thirty-twos  that  were  mounted  in  the  apartment, 
together  with  their  opposites.  As  the  sea-officers,  in  par 
ticular,  appeared  among  the  men  their  faces  assumed  an  air 
of  authority,  and  their  voices  were  heard  calling  out  the 
order  to  "Tumble  up!"  as  they  hastened  themselves  to 
their  several  stations. 

All  this  time  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  paced  the  poop. 

Bunting  and  the  quartermaster  were  in  readiness  to 
hoist  the  new  signal,  and  Greenly  merely  waited  for  the 
reports,  to  join  the  Commander-in-chief.  In  about  five 
minutes  after  the  drum  had  given  its  first  tap,  these  wiere 
completed,  and  the  Captain  ascended  to  the  poop. 

"By  standing  on  our  present  course,  Captain  Greenly," 
observed  Sir  Gervaise,  anxious  to  justify  to  himself  the 
evolution  he  contemplated,  "  the  rear  of  our  line  and  the 
van  of  the  French  will  be  brought  within  fair  range  of 
shot  from  each  other,  and  by  an  accident,  we  might  lose  a 
ship  ;  since  any  vessel  that  was  crippled  would  necessarily 
sag  directly  down  upon  the  enemy.  Now,  I  propose  to 
keep  away  %t  the  Plantagenet,  and  just  brush  past  the 
leading  French  ships,  at  about  the  distance  the  Warspite 
will  have  to  pass,  and  so  alter  the  face  of  matters  a  little. 
What  do  you  think  would  be  the  consequence  of  such  a 
manoeuvre  ? " 

"  That  the  van  of  our  line  and  the  van  of  the  French  will 
be  brought  as  near  together,  as  you  have  just  said  must 
happen  to  the  rear,  Sir  Gervaise,  in  any  case." 

"  It  does  not  require  a  mathematician  to  tell  that  much, 
sir.  You  will  keep  away  as  soon  as  Bunting  shows  the 
signal,  and  bring  the  wind  abeam.  Never  mind  the  braces  ; 
let  them  stand  fast ;  as  soon  as  we  have  passed  the  French 
Admiral,  I  shall  luff  again.  This  will  cause  us  to  lose  a 
little  of  our  weatherly  position,  but  about  that  I  am  very 
indifferent.  Give  the  order,  sir— Bunting,  run  up  the 
signal." 

These  commands  were   silently  obeyed,  and   presently 


304  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

the  Plantagenet  was  running  directly  in  the  troughs  of  the 
seas,  with  quite  double  her  former  velocity.  The  other 
ships  answered  promptly,  each  keeping  away  as  her  sec 
ond  ahead  came  down  to  the  proper  line  of  sailing,  and 
all  complying  to  the  letter  with  an  order  that  was  very 
easy  of  execution.  The  effect,  besides  giving  every  pros 
pect  of  a  distant  engagement,  was  to  straighten  the  line  to 
nearly  mathematical  precision. 

"Is  it  your  wish,  Sir  Gervaise,  that  we  should  endeavor 
to  open  our  lee  lower  ports  ? "  asked  Greenly.  '  Unless 
we  attempt  something  of  the  sort,  we  shall  have  nothing 
heavier  than  the  eighteens  to  depend  on  should  Monsieur 
de  Vervillin  see  fit  to  begin." 

"And  will  he  be  any  better  off  ?  It  would  be  next  to 
madness  to  think  of  fighting  the  lower-deck  guns  in  such 
weather,  and  we  will  keep  all  fast.  Should  the  French 
commence  the  sport,  we  shall  have  the  advantage  of  being 
to  windward  ;  and  the  loss  of  a  few  weather  shrouds  might 
bring  down  the  best  mast  in  their  fleet." 

Greenly  made  no  answer,  though  he  perfectly  under 
stood  that  the  loss  of  a  mast  would  almost  certainly  insure 
the  loss  of  a  ship,  did  one  of  his  own  heavier  spars  go. 
But  this  wras  Sir  Gervaise's  greatest  weakness  as  a  com 
mander,  and  he  knew  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt  per 
suading  him  to  suffer  a  single  ship  under  his  order  to  pass 
the  enemy  nearer  than  he  went  himself  in  the  Plantagenet. 
This  was  what  he  called  covering  his  ships  ;  though  it 
amounted  to  no  more  than  putting  all  of  them  in  the 
jeopardy  that  happened  to  be  unavoidable,  as  regarded 
one  or  two. 

The  Count  de  Vervillin  seemed  at  a  loss  to  understand 
this  sudden  and  extraordinary  movement  in  the  van  of  his 
enemy.  His  signals  followed,  and  his  crews  went  to  their 
guns  ;  but  it  was  not  an  easy  matter  for  ships  that  perse 
vered  in  hugging  the  wind  to  make  any  material  alterations 
in  their  relative  positions,  in  such  a  gale.  The  rate  of 
sailing  of  the  English,  however,  now  menaced  a  speedy 
collision,  if  collision  were  intended,  and  it  was  time  to  be 
stirring,  in  order  to  be  ready  for  it. 

On  the  other  hand,  all  was  quiet,  and,  seemingly,  death 
like,  in  the  English  ships.  Their  people  were  at  their 
quarters,  already,  and  this  is  a  moment  of  profound  still 
ness  in  a  vessel  of  war.  The  lower  ports  being  down,  the 
portions  of  the  crews  stationed  on  those  decks  were  buried, 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  305 

as  it  might  be,  in  obscurity,  while  even  those  above  were 
still  partly  concealed  by  the  half-ports.  There  was  virtu 
ally  nothing  for  the  sail-trimmers  to  do,  and  every  thing 
was  apparently  left  to  the  evolutions  of  the  vast  machines 
themselves,  in  which  they  floated.  Sir  Gervaise,  Greenly, 
and  the  usual  attendants  still  remained  on  the  poop,  their 
eyes  scarcely  turning  for  an  instant  from  the  fleet  of  the 
enemy. 

By  this  time  the  Plantagenet  and  Le  Temeraire  were 
little  more  than  a  mile  apart,  each  minute  lessening  this 
distance.  The  latter  ship  wras  struggling  along,  her  bows 
plunging  into  the  seas  to  the  hawse-holes,  while  the  former 
had  a  swift,  easy  motion  through  the  troughs,  and  along 
the  summits  of  the  waves,  her  flattened  sails  aiding  in 
steadying  her  in  the  heavy  lurches  that  unavoidably  accom 
panied  such  a  movement.  Still  a  sea  wTould  occasionally 
break  against  her  weather  side,  sending  its  crest  upward 
in  a  brilliant  jet  (Teciu,  and  leaving  tons  of  water  on  the 
decks.  Sir  Gervaise's  manner  had  now  lost  every  glim 
mering  of  excitement.  When  he  spoke  it  was  in  a  gentle, 
pleasant  tone,  such  as  a  gentleman  might  use  in  the  socie 
ty  of  women.  The  truth  was,  all  his  energy  had  concen 
trated  in  the  determination  to  do  a  daring  deed  ;  and,  as 
is  not  unusual  with  the  most  resolute  men,  the  nearer  he 
approached  to  the  consummation  of  his  purpose,  the  more 
he  seemed  to  reject  all  the  spurious  aids  of  manner. 

"  The  French  do  not  open  their  lower  ports,  Greenly," 
observed  the  Vice-admiral,  dropping  the  glass  after  one  of 
his  long  looks  at  the  enemy,  "  although  they  have  the  ad 
vantage  of  being  to  leeward.  I  take  that  to  be  a  sign  they 
intend  nothing  very  serious." 

"We  shall  know  better  five  minutes  hence,  Sir  Gervaise. 
This  ship  slides  along  like  a  London  coach." 

"His  line  is  lubberly,  after  all  Greenly!  Look  at  those 
two  ships  astern  :  they  are  near  half  a  mile  to  windward 
of  the  rest  of  the  fleet,  and  at  least  half  a  mile  astern. 
Hey,  Greenly?" 

The  Captain  turned  toward  the  rear  of  the  French,  and 
examined  the  positions  of  the  two  ships  mentioned  with 
sufficient  deliberation  ;  but  Sir  Gervaise  dropped  his  head 
in  a  musing  manner,  and  began  to  pace  the  poop  again. 
Once  or  twice  he  stopped  to  look  at  the  rear  of  the  French 
line,  then  distant  from  him  quite  a  league,  and  as  often  did 
he  resume  his  walk. 

20 


306  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

"Bunting,"  said  the  Vice-admiral,  mildly,  "come  this 
way  a  moment.  Our  last  signal  was  to  keep  in  the  Com' 
mander-in-chief  s  wake,  and  to  follow  his  motions  ?" 

"It  was,  Sir  Gervaise.  The  old  order  to  follow  motions, 
'with  or  without  signals,'  as  one  might  say." 

"  Bend  on  the  signals  to  close  up  in  line,  as  near  as  safe, 
and  to  carry  sail  by  the  flag-ship." 

"  Aye,  aye,  Sir  Gervaise — we'll  have  'em  both  up  in  five 
minutes,  sir." 

The  Commander-in-chief  now  even  seemed  pleased.  His 
physical  excitement  returned  a  little,  and  a  smile  struggled 
round  his  lip.  His  eye  glanced  at  Greenly,  to  see  if  he 
were  suspected,  and  then  all  his  calmness  of  exterior  re 
turned.  In  the  mean  time  the  signals  were  made  and 
answered.  The  latter  circumstance  was  reported  to  Sir 
Gervaise,  who  cast  his  eyes  down  the  line  astern,  and  saw 
that  the  different  ships  were  already  bracing  in,  and  easing 
off  their  sheets,  in  order  to  diminish  the  spaces  between 
the  different  vessels.  As  soon  as  it  was  apparent  that  the 
Carnatic  was  drawing  ahead,  Captain  Greenly  was  told  to 
lay  his  main  and  fore  yards  nearly  square,  to  light  up  all 
his  staysail  sheets,  and  to  keep  away  sufficiently  to  make 
everything  draw.  Although  these  orders  occasioned  sur 
prise,  they  were  implicitly  obeyed. 

The  moment  of  meeting  had  now  come.  In  consequence 
of  having  kept  away  so  much,  the  Plantagenet  could  not 
be  quite  three-fourths  of  a  mile  on  the  weather-bow  of  Le 
Temeraire,  coming  up  rapidly,  and  threatening  a  semi- 
transverse  fire.  In  order  to  prevent  this  the  French  ship 
edged  off  a  little,  giving  herself  an  easier  and  more  rapid 
movement  through  the  water,  and  bringing  her  own  broad 
side  more  fairly  to  the  shock.  This  evolution  was  fol 
lowed  by  the  two  next  ships,  a  little  prematurely,  perhaps; 
but  the  admiral  in  Le«  Foudroyant,  disdaining  to  edge  off 
from  her  enemy,  kept  her  luff.  The  ships  astern  were 
governed  by  the  course  of  their  superior.  This  change 
produced  a  little  disorder  in  the  van  of  the  French,  men 
acing  still  greater,  unless  one  party  or  the  other  receded 
from  the  course  taken.  But  time  pressed,  and  the  two 
fleets  were  closing  so  fast  as  to  induce  other  thoughts. 

"There's  lubberly  work  for  you,  Greenly,"  said  Sir  Ger 
vaise,  smiling.  "A  commander-in-chief  heading  up  with 
bowlines  dragged,  and  his  second  and  third  ahead — not  to 
say  fourth — running  off  with  the  wind  abeam !  Now,  if 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  307 

we  can  knock  the  Comte  off  a  couple  off  points,  in  pass 
ing,  all  his  fellows  astern  will  follow,  and  the  Warspite 
and  Blenheim  and  Thunderer  will  slip  by  like  girls  in  a 
country-dance  !  Send  Bury  down  to  the  main-deck,  with 
orders  to  be  ready  with  those  eighteens." 

Greenly  obeyed,  of  course,  and  he  began  to  think  better 
of  audacity  in  naval  warfare  than  he  had  done  before 
that  day.  This  was  the  usual  course  of  things  with  these 
two  officers  ;  one  arguing  and  deciding  according  to  the 
dictates  of  a  cool  judgment,  and  the  other  following  his 
impulses  quite  as  muclji  as  any  thing  else,  until  facts 
supervened  to  prove  that  human  things  are  as  much 
controlled  by  adventitious  agencies,  the  results  of  remote 
and  unseen  causes,  as  by  any  well-digested  plans  laid  at  the 
moment.  In  their  cooler  hours,  when  they  came  to  reason 
on  the  past,  the  Vice-admiral  generally  consummated  his 
triumphs,  by  reminding  his  captain  that  if  he  had  not 
been  in  the  way  of  luck,  he  never  could  have  profited  by 
it ;  no  bad  creed  for  a  naval  officer,  who  is  otherwise  pru 
dent  and  vigilant. 

The  quartermasters  of  the  fleet  were  just  striking  six 
bells,  or  proclaiming  that  it  was  seven  o'clock  in  the 
morning  watch,  as  the  Plantagenet  and  Le  Temeraire 
came  abeam  of  each  other.  Both  ships  lurched  heavily 
in  the  troughs  of  the  seas,  and  both  rolled  to  windward  in 
stately  majesty,  and  yet  both  slid  through  the  brine  with 
a  momentum  that  resembled  the  imperceptible  motion  of 
a  planet.  The  water  rolled  back  from  their  black  sides 
and  shining  hammock-cloths,  and  all  the  other  dark  pan 
oply  that  distinguishes  a  ship-of-war  glistened  with  the 
spray ;  but  no  sign  of  hostility  proceeded  from  either. 
The  French  Admiral  made  no  signal  to  engage,  and  Sir 
Gervaise  had  reasons  of  his  own  for  wishing  to  pass  the 
enemy's  van,  if  possible,  unnoticed.  Minute  passed  after 
minute,  in  breathless  silence,  on  board  the  Plantagenet 
and  the  Carnatic,  the  latter  vessel  being  now  but  half  a 
cable's-length  astern  of  the  Admiral.  Every  eye  that  had 
any  outlet  for  such  a  purpose  was  riveted  on  the  main-deck 
ports  of  Le  Temeraire  in  expectation  of  seeing  the  fire 
issue  from  her  guns.  Each  instant,  however,  lessened  the 
chances,  as  regarded  that  particular  vessel,  which  was 
soon  out  of  the  line  of  fire  from  the  Plantagenet,  when 
the  same  scene  was  to  follow,  with  the  same  result,  in  con 
nection  with  Le  Conquereur,  the  second  ship  of  the  French 


308  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

line.  Sir  Gervaise  smiled  as  he  passed  the  three  first  ships 
seemingly  unnoticed  ;  but  as  he  drew  nearer  to  the  Ad 
miral,  he  felt  confident  this  impunity  must  cease. 

"What  they  mean  by  it  all,  Greenly,"  he  observed  to 
his  companion,  "is  more  than  I  can  say;  but  we  will  go 
nearer,  and  try  to  find  out.  Keep  her  away  a  little  more, 
sir ;  keep  her  away  half  a  point."  Greenly  was  not  dis 
posed  to  remonstrate  now,  for  his  prudent  temperament 
was  yielding  to  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  just  revers 
ing  the  traits  of  Sir  Gervaise's  character  ;  the  one  losing 
his  extreme  discretion  in  feeling,  as  the  other  gained  by 
the  pressure  of  circumstances.  The  helm  was  eased  a 
little,  and  the  ship  sheered  nearer  to  Le  Foudroyant. 

As  is  usual  in  all  services,  the  French  commander-in- 
chief  was  in  one  of  the  best  vessels  of  his  fleet.  Not  only 
was  the  Foudroyant  a  heavy  ship,  carrying  French  forty- 
twos  below,  a  circumstance  that  made  her  rate  as  an  eighty, 
but,  like  the  Plantagenet,  she  was  one  of  the  fastest  and 
most  weatherly  vessels  of  her  class  known.  By  "  hugging 
the  wind,"  this  noble  vessel  had  got,  by  this  time,  mate 
rially  to  windward  of  her  second  and  third  ahead,  and  had 
increased  her  distance  essentially  from  her  supports  astern. 
In  a  word,  she  was  far  from  being  in  a  position  to  be  sus 
tained  as  she  ought  to  be,  unless  she  edged  off  herself,  a 
movement  that  no  one  on  board  her  seemed  to  contem 
plate. 

"  He's  a  noble  fellow,  Greenly,  that  Comte  de  Vervillin  !  " 
murmured  Sir  Gervaise,  in  a  tone  of  admiration,  "and  so 
have  I  always  found  him,  and  so  have  I  always  reported, 
him,  too  !  The  fools  about  the  Gazettes,  and  the  knaves 
about  the  offices,  may  splutter  as  they  will  ;  Mr.  de  Ver 
villin  would  give  them  plenty  of  occupation  were  they  here. 
I  question  if  he  mean  to  keep  off  in  the  least,  but  insists 
on  holding  every  inch  he  can  gain  !" 

The  next  moment,  however,  satisfied  Sir  Gervaise  that 
he  was  mistaken  in  his  last  conjecture,  the  bow  of  the 
Foudroyant  gradually  falling  off,  until  the  line  of  her  lar 
board  guns  bore,  when  she  made  a  general  discharge  of 
the  whole  of  them,  with  the  exception  of  those  on  the 
lower  deck.  The  Plantagenets  waited  until  the  ship  'rose 
on  a  sea,  and  then  they  returned  the  compliment  in  the 
same  manner.  The  Carnatic's  side  showed  a  sheet  of 
flame  immediately  after  ;  and  the  Achilles,  Lord  Morga- 
nic,  luffing  briskly  to  the  wind,  so  as  to  bring  her  guns  to 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  309 

bear,  followed  up  the  game,  like  flashes  of  lightning.  All 
three  of  these  ships  had  directed  their  fire  at  Le  Foudroy- 
ant,  and  the  smoke  had  not  yet  driven  from  among  her 
spars,  when  Sir  Gervaise  perceived  that  all  three  of  her 
topmasts  were  hanging  to  leeward.  At  this  sight,  Greenly 
fairly  sprang  from  the  deck,  and  gave  three  cheers.  The 
men  below  caught  up  the  cry,  even  to  those  who  were,  in 
a  manner,  buried  on  the  lower  deck,  and  presently,  spite 
of  the  gale,  the  Carnatics  were  heard  following  their  ex 
ample  astern.  At  this  instant  the  whole  French  and  Eng 
lish  lines  opened  their  fire  from  van  to  rear,  as  far  as  their 
guns  would  bear,  or  the  shot  tell. 

"Now,  sir,  now  is  our  time  to  close  with  De  Vervillin  !  " 
exclaimed  Greenly,  the  instant  he  perceived  the  manner 
in  which  his  ship  was  crippled.  "  In  our  close  order  we 
might  hope  to  make  a  thorough  wreck  of  him," 

"Not  so,  Greenly,"  returned  Sir  Gervaise,  calmly. 
"You  see  he  edges  away  already,  and  will  be  down  among 
his  other  ships  in  five  minutes  ;  we  should  have  a  general 
action  with  twice  our  force.  What  is  done,  is  well  done, 
and  we  will  let  it  stand.  It  is  something  to  have  dismasted 
the  enemy's  commander-in-chief  ;  do  you  look  to  it  that 
the  enemy  don't  do  the  same  with  ours.  I  heard  shot 
rattling  aloft,  and  everything  now  bears  a  hard  strain." 

Greenly  went  to  look  after  his  duty,  while  Sir  Gervaise 
continued  to  pace  the  poop.  The  whole  of  Le  Foudroy- 
ant's  fire  had  been  directed  at  the  Plantagenet,  but  so 
rough  was  the  ocean  that  not  a  shot  touched  the  hull.  A 
little  injury  had  been  done  aloft,  but  nothing  that  the 
ready  skill  of  the  seamen  was  not  able  to  repair  even  in 
that  rough  weather.  The  fact  is,  most  of  the  shot  had 
touched  the  waves,  and  had  flown  off  from  their  varying 
surfaces  at  every  angle  that  offered.  One  of  the  secrets 
that  Sir  Gervaise  had  taught  his  captains  was  to  avoid  hit 
ting  the  surface  of  the  sea,  if  possible  unless  that  surface 
was  reasonably  smooth,  and  the  object  intended  to  be 
injured  was  near  at  hand.  Then  the  French  Admiral  re 
ceived  the  first  fire — always  the  most  destructive — of  three 
fresh  vessels;  and  his  injuries  were  in  propotion. 

The  scene  was  now  animated,  and  not  without  a  wild 
magnificence.  The  gale  continued  as  heavy  as  ever,  and 
with  the  raging  of  the  ocean,  and  the  howling  of  the 
winds,  mingled  the  roar  of  artillery,  and  the  smoky  canopy 
of  battle.  Still  the  destruction  on  neither  side  bore  any 


3io  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

proportion  to  the  grandeur  of  the  accompaniments  ;  the 
distance  and  the  unsteadiness  of  the  ships  prevented 
much  accuracy  of  aim.  In  that  day  a  large  two-decked 
ship  never  carried  heavier  metal  than  an  eighteen  above 
her  lower  batteries  ;  and  this  gun,  efficient  as  it  is  on  most 
occasions,  does  not  bring  with  it  the  fearful  destruction 
that  attends  a  more  modern  broadside. 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  noise,  notwithstanding,  and 
some  blood  shed  in  passing  ;  but  on  the  whole,  when  the 
Warspite,  the  last  of  the  English  ships,  ceased  her  fire,  on 
account  of  the  distance  of  the  enemy  abreast  of  her,  it 
would  have  been  difficult  to  tell  that  any  vessel  but  Le 
Foudroyant  had  been  doing  more  than  saluting.  At  this 
instant  Greenly  reappeared  on  the  poop,  his  own  ship  hav 
ing  ceased  to  fire  for  several  minutes. 

''Well,  Greenly,  the  main-deck  guns  are  at  least  scaled," 
said  Sir  Gervaise,  smiling,  "  and  that  is  not  to  be  done 
over  again  for  some  time.  You  keep  everything  ready  in 
the  batteries,  I  trust?" 

"  We  are  all  ready,  Sir  Gervaise,  but  there  is  nothing  to 
be  done.  It  wrould  be  useless  to  waste  our  ammunition  at 
ships  quite  two  miles  under  our  lee." 

"Very  true — very  true,  sir.  But  ail  the  Frenchmen  are 
not  quite  so  far  to  leeward,  Greenly,  as  you  may  see  by 
looking  ahead.  Yonder  two,  at  least,  are  not  absolutely 
out  of  harm's  \vay  !  " 

Greenly  turned,  gazed  an  instant  in  the  direction  in 
which  the  Commander-in-chief  pointed,  and  then  the  truth 
of  wrhat  Sir  Gervaise  had  really  in  view  in  keeping  away, 
flashed  on  his  mind,  as  it  might  be,  at  a  glance.  Without 
saying  a  word,  he  immediately  quitted  the  poop,  and  de 
scending  even  to  the  lower  deck,  passed  through  the  whole 
of  his  batteries,  giving  his  orders,  and  examining  their 
condition. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

By  Heaven !  it  is  a  splendid  sight  to  see 

(For  one  who  hath  no  friend,  no  brother  there) 

Their  rival  scarfs  of  mixed  embroidery — 

Their  various  arms  that  glitter  in  the  air.  —  Childe  Harold. 

THE  little  conflict  between  the  English  ships  and  the 
head  of  the  French  line,  the  evolution  that  had  grown  out 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  311 

of  it,  the  crippling  of  Le  Foudroyant,  and  the  continuance 
of  the  gale,  contributed  to  produce  material  changes  in 
the  relative  positions  of  the  two  fleets.  All  the  English 
vessels  kept  their  stations  with  beautiful  accuracy,  still 
running  to  the  southward  in  a  close  line  ahead,  having  the 
wind  a  trifle  abaft  the  beam,  with  their  yards  braced  in. 
Under  the  circumstances,  it  needed  but  some  seven  or 
eight  minutes  for  these  ships  to  glide  a  mile  through  the 
troubled  ocean,  and  this  was  about  the  period  the  most 
exposed  of  them  all  had  been  under  the  random  and  slow 
fire  that  the  state  of  the  weather  permitted.  The  trifling 
damages  sustained  were  already  repaired,  or  in  a  way 
soon  to  be  so.  On  the  other  hand,  considerable  disorder 
prevailed  among  the  French.  Their  line  had  never  been 
perfect,  extending  quite  a  league  ;  a  few  of  the  leading 
vessels,  or  those  near  the  commander-in-chief,  sustaining 
each  other  as  well  as  could  be  desired,  while  long  intervals 
existed  between  the  ships  astern.  Among  the  latter,  too, 
as  has  been  stated,  some  were  much  farther  to  windward 
than  the  others  ;  an  irregularity  that  proceeded  from  a 
desire  of  the  Comte  to  luff  up  as  near  as  possible  to  the 
enemy — a  desire  which,  practised  on,  necessarily  threw  the 
least  weatherly  vessels  to  leeward.  Thus  the  two  ships  in 
the  extreme  rear,  as  has  been  hinted  at  already,  being 
jammed  up  unusually  hard  upon  the  wind,  had  weathered 
materially  on  their  consorts,  while  their  way  through  the 
water  had  been  proportionately  less.  It  was  these  com 
bined  circumstances  which  brought  them  so  far  astern  and 
to  windward. 

At  the  same  time  Sir  Gervaise  pointed  out  their  positions 
to  Greenly,  the  two  vessels  just  mentioned  were  quite 
half  a  mile  to  the  westward  of  their  nearest  consort,  and 
more  than  that  distance  to  the  southward.  When  it  is  re 
membered  that  the  wind  was  nearly  due  west,  and  that  all 
the  French  vessels,  these  two  excepted,  were  steering 
north,  the  relative  positions  of  the  latter  will  be  under 
stood.  Le  Foudroyant,  too,  had  kept  away,  after  the  loss 
of  her  topmasts,  until  fairly  in  the  wake  of  the  ships 
ahead  of  her,  in  her  own  line,  and,  as  the  vessels  had  been 
running  off  with  the  wind  abeam,  for  several  minutes,  this 
manoeuvre  threw  the  French  still  farther  to  leeward.  To 
make  the  matter  worse,  just  as  the  Warspite  drew  out  of 
the  range  of  shot  from  the  French,  M.  de  Vervillin  showed 
a  signal  at  the  end  o'f  his  gaff,  for  his  whole  fleet  to  wear 


312  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

in  succession  ;  an  order  which,  while  it  certainly  had  a 
gallant  semblance,  as  it  was  bringing  his  vessels  round  on 
the  same  tack  as  his  enemy,  and  looked  like  a  defiance, 
was  singularly  adapted  to  restoring  to  the  latter  all  the 
advantage  of  the  wind  they  had  lost  by  keeping  away. 
As  it  was  necessary  to  take  room  to  execute  this  evolution, 
in  order  to  clear  the  ships  that  were  now  crowded  in  the 
van,  when  Le  Temeraire  came  to  the  wind  again  on  the 
starboard  tack,  she  was  fully  half  a  mile  to  leeward  of  the 
Admiral,  who  had  just  put  his  helm  up.  As  a  matter  of 
course,  in  order  to  form  anew,  with  the  heads  of  the  ships 
to  the  southward,  each  vessel  had  to  get  into  her  leader's 
wake,  which  would  be  virtually  throwing  the  whole  French 
line,  again,  two  miles  to  leeward  of  the  English.  Never 
theless,  the  stragglers  in  the  rear  of  the  French  continued 
to  hug  the  wind,  with  a  pertinacity  that  denoted  a  resolu 
tion  to  have  a  brush  with  their  enemies  in  passing.  The 
vessels  were  Le  Scipion  and  La  Victoire,  each  of  seventy- 
four  guns.  The  first  of  these  ships  was  commanded  by  a 
young  man  of  very  little  professional  experience,  but  of 
high  court  influence  ;  while  the  second  had  a  captain  who, 
like  old  Parker,  had  worked  his  way  up  to  his  present 
station  through  great  difficulties,  and  by  dint  of  hard 
knocks  and  harder  work.  Unfortunately  the  first  ranked, 
and  the  humble  capitaine  de  fregate,  placed  by  accident  in 
command  of  a  ship  of  the  line,  did  not  dare  to  desert  a 
capitaine  de  vaisseau,  who  had  a  due  for  an  elder  brother,  and 
called  himself  comte.  There  was  perhaps  a  redeeming 
gallantry  in  the  spirit  which  determined  the  Comte  de 
Chelincourt  to  incur  the  risk  of  passing  so  near  six  vessels 
with  only  two,  that  might  throw  a  veil  over  the  indiscre 
tion  ;  more  especially  as  his  own  fleet  was  near  enough  to 
support  him  in  the  event  of  any  disaster,  and  it  was  cer 
tainly  possible  that  the  loss  of  a  material  spar  on  board 
either  of  his  foes,  might  induce  the  capture  of  the  vessel. 
At  all  events,  thus  reasoned  M.  de  Chelincourt ;  who  con 
tinued  boldly  on,  with  his  larboard  tacks  aboard,  always 
hugging  the  wind,  even  after  the  Temeraire  was  round  ; 
and  M.  Comptant  chose  to  follow  him  in  La  Victoire. 
The  Plantagenet,  by  this  time,  being  not  a  mile  distant 
from  the  Scipio,  coming  on  with  steady  velocity,  these  in 
tentions  and  circumstances  created  every  human  proba 
bility  that  she  would  soon  be  passing  her  weather  beam, 
within  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and,  consequently,  that  a  can* 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  313 

nonade,  far  more  serious  than  had  yet  occurred,  must 
follow.  The  few  intervening  minutes  gave  Sir  Gervaise 
time  to  throw  a  glance  around  him,  and  to  come  to  his 
final  decision. 

The  English  fleet  was  never  in  better  line  than  at  that 
precise  moment.  The  ships  were  as  close  to  each  other 
as  comported  with  safety,  and  everything  stood  and  drew 
as  in  the  trade  winds.  The  leading  French  vessels  were 
wearing  and  increasing  their  distance  to  leeward,  and  it 
would  require  an  hour  for  them  to  get  up  near  enough  to 
be  at  all  dangerous  in  such  weather,  while  all  the  rest  were 
following,  regardless  of  the  two  that  continued  their  luff. 
The  Chloe  had  already  got  round,  and,  hugging  the  wind, 
was  actually  coming  up  to  windward  of  her  own  line, 
though  under  a  press  of  canvass  that  nearly  buried  her. 
The  Active  and  Driver  were  in  their  stations,  as  usual ; 
one  on  the  weather  beam,  and  the  other  "on  the  weather 
bow  ;  while  the  Druid  had  got  so  near  as  to  show  her 
hull,  closing  fast,  with  square  yards. 

"That  is  either  a  very  bold,  or  a  very  obstinate  fellow  ; 
he,  who  commands  the  two  ships  ahead  of  us,"  observed 
Greenly,  as  he  stood  at  the  Vice-admiral's  side,  and  just 
as  the  latter  terminated  his  survey.  "What  object  can  he 
possibly  have  in  braving  three  times  his  force  in  a  gale 
like  this  ?" 

"  If  it  were  an  Englishman,  Greenly,  we  should  call  him 
a  hero !  By  taking  a  mast  out  of  one  of  us,  he  might 
cause  the  loss  of  the  ship,  or  compel  us  to  engage  double 
our  force.  Do  not  blame  him,  but  help  me  rather,  to  dis 
appoint  him.  Now,  listen,  and  see  all  done  immediately." 

Sir  Gervaise  then  explained  to  the  Captain  what  his  in 
tentions  really  were,  first  ordering,  himself  (a  very  unusual 
course  for  one  of  his  habits),  the  First  Lieutenant  to  keep 
the  ship  off  as  much  as  practicable,  without  seeming  to 
wish  to  do  so  ;  but,  as  the  orders  will  be  explained  inci 
dentally,  in  the  course  of  the  narrative,  it  is  not  necessary 
to  give  them  here.  Greenly  then  went  below,  leaving  Sir 
Gervaise,  Bunting,  and  their  auxiliaries,  in  possession  of 
the  poop.  A  private  signal  had  been  bent  on  some  little 
time,  and  it-was  now  hoisted.  In  about  five  minutes  it 
was  read,  understood,  and  answered  by  all  the  ships  of  the 
fleet.  Sir  Gervaise  rubbed  his  hands  like  a  man  who  was 
delighted,  and  he  beckoned  to  Bury,  who  had  the  trumpet 
on  the  quarter-deck,  to  join  him  on  the  poop. 


314  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

"Did  Captain  Greenly  let  you  into  our  plot,  Bury?" 
asked  the  Vice-admiral,  in  high  good-humor,  as  soon  as 
obeyed.  "  I  saw  he  spoke  to  you  in  going  below." 

"  lie  only  told  me,  Sir  Gervaise,  to  edge  down  upon  the 
Frenchmen  as  close  as  I  could,  and  this  we  are  doing,  I 
think,  as  fast  as  Mounsheer" — Bury  was  an  Anglo-Galli- 
can — "will  at  all  like." 

"  Ah  !  there  old  Parker  sheers  bravely  to  leeward  !  Trust 
to  him  to  be  in  the  right  place.  The  Carnatic  went  fifty 
fathoms  out  of  line  at  that  one  twist.  The  Thunderer  and 
Warspite  too  !  Never  was  a  signal  more  beautifully  obeyed. 
If  the  Frenchmen  don't  take  the  alarm,  now,  everything 
will  be  to  our  minds." 

By  this  time,  Bury  began  to  understand  the  manoeuvre. 
Each  alternate  ship  of  the  English  was  sheering  fast  to 
leeward,  forming  a  weather  and  a  lee  line,  with  increased 
intervals  between  the  vessels,  while  all  of  them  were  edging 
rapidly  away,  so  as  greatly  to  near  the  enemy.  It  was  ap 
parent  now,  indeed,  that  the  Plantagenet  herself  must  pass 
within  a  hundred  fathoms  of  the  Scipio,  and  that  in  less 
than  two  minutes.  The  delay  in  issuing  the  orders  for 
this  evolution  was  in  favor  of  its  success,  inasmuch  as  it 
did  not  give  the  enemy  time  for  deliberation.  The  Comte 
de  Chelincourt,  in  fact,  did  not  detect  it ;  or,  at  least,  did 
not  foresee  the  consequences  ;  though  both  were  quite  ap 
parent  to  the  more  experienced  capitaine  de  fregate  astern. 
It  was  too  late,  or  the  latter  would  have  signalled  his  su 
perior  to  put  him  on  his  guard  ;  but,  as  things  were,  there 
remained  no  alternative,  apparently,  but  to  run  the  gaunt 
let,  and  trust  all  to  the  chances  of  battle. 

In  a  moment  like  that  we  are  describing,  events  occur 
much  more  rapidly  than  they  can  be  related.  The  Planta 
genet  was  now  within  pistol-shot  of  Le  Scipion,  and  on 
her  weather  bow.  At  that  precise  instant,  when  the  bow- 
guns,  on  both  sides,  began  to  play,  the  Carnatic,  then 
nearly  in  a  line  with  the  enemy,  made  a  rank  sheer  to  lee 
ward,  and  drove  on,  opening  in  the  very  act  with  her 
weather-bow  guns.  The  Thunderer  and  Warspite  imitated 
this  manoeuvre,  leaving  the  Frenchman  the  cheerless  pros 
pect  of  being  attacked  on  both  sides.  It  is  riot  to  be  con 
cealed  that  M.  de  Chelincourt  was  considerably  disturbed 
by  this  sudden  change  in  his  situation.  That  which,  an  in 
stant  before,  had  the  prospect  of  being  a  chivalrous,  but 
extremely  hazardous,  passage  in  front  of  a  formidable  ene- 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  315 

my,  now  began  to  assume  the  appearance  of  something 
very  like  destruction.  It  was  too  late,  however,  to  remedy 
the  evil,  and  the  young  Comte,  as  brave  a  man  as  existed, 
determined  to  face  it  manfully.  He  had  scarcely  time  to 
litter  a  few  cheering  sentiments,  in  a  dramatic  manner,  to 
those  on  the  quarter-deck,  when  the  English  flag-ship  came 
sweeping  past  in  a  cloud  of  smoke,  and  a  blaze  of  fire.  His 
own  broadside  was  nobly  returned,  or  as  much  of  it  as  the 
weather  permitted,  but  the  smoke  of  both  discharges  was 
still  driving  between  the  masts,  when  the  dark  hamper  of 
the  Carnatic  glided  into  the  drifting  canopy,  which  was 
made  to  whirl  back  on  the  devoted  Frenchman  in  another 
torrent  of  flame. 

Three  times  was  this  fearful  assault  renewed  on  the 
Scipio,  at  intervals  of  about  a  minute,  the  iron  hurricane 
first  coming  from  to  windward,  and  then  seeming  to  be 
driven  back  from  to  leeward,  as  by  its  own  rebound,  leav 
ing  no  breathing  time  to  meet  it.  The  effect  was  com 
pletely  to  silence  her  own  fire  ;  for  what  between  the 
power  of  the  raging  elements,  and  the  destruction  of  the 
shot,  a  species  of  wild  and  blood-fraught  confusion  took 
the  place  of  system  and  order.  Her  decks  were  covered 
witli  killed  and  wounded,  among  the  latter  of  wrhoni  was 
the  Comte  de  Chelincourt,  while  orders  were  given  and 
countermanded  in  a  way  to  render  them  useless  if  not  inco 
herent.  From  the  time  when  the  Plantagenet  fired  her  first 
gun,  to  that  when  the  Warspite  fired  her  last  was  just  five 
minutes  by  the  watch.  It  seemed  an  hour  to  the  French, 
and  but  a  moment  to  their  enemies.  One  hundred  and 
eighty-t\vo  men  and  boys  were  included  in  the  casualties  of 
those  teeming  moments  on  board  the  Scipio  alone ;  and 
when  that  ship  issued  slowly  from  the  scene  of  havoc,  more 
by  the  velocity  of  her  assailants  in  passing  than  by  her 
own.  the  foremast  was  all  that  stood,  the  remainder  of  her 
spars  dragging  under  her  lee.  To  cut  the  last  adrift,  and 
to  run  off  nearly  before  the  wind,  in  order  to  save  the  spars 
forward,  and  to  get  writhin  the  cover  of  her  own  fleet,  was 
all  that  could  now  be  done.  It  may  as  well  be  said  here 
that  these  two  objects  were  effected. 

The  Plantagenet  had  received  damage  from  the  fire  of 
her  opponent.  Some  ten  or  fifteen  men  were  killed  and 
wounded ;  her  main-topsail  was  split  by  a  shot,  from  clew 
to  earing  ;  one  of  the  quartermasters  was  carried  from  the 
poop,  literally  dragged  overboard  by  the  sinews  that  con- 


316  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

nected  head  and  body  ;  and  several  of  the  spars,  with  a 
good  deal  of  rigging,  required  to  be  looked  to,  on  account 
of  injuries.  But  no  one  thought  of  these  things,  except  as 
they  were  connected  with  present  and  pressing  duties.  Sir 
Gervaise  got  a  sight  of  La  Victoire,  some  hundred  and 
twenty  fathoms  ahead,  just  as  the  roar  of  the  Carnatic's 
guns  was  rushing  upon  his  ears.  The  French  commander 
saw  and  understood  the  extreme  jeopardy  of  his  consort, 
and  he  had  already  put  his  helm  hard  up. 

"Starboard — starboard  hard,  Bury  !"  shouted  Sir  Ger 
vaise  from  the  poop.  "  Damn  him,  run  him  aboard  if  he 
dare  hold  on  long  enough  to  meet  us  !  " 

The  Lieutenant  signed  with  his  hand  that  the  order  was 
understood,  and  the  helm  being  put  up,  the  ship  went 
whirling  off  to  leeward  on  the  summit  of  a  hill  of  foam. 
A  cheer  was  heard  struggling  in  the  tempest,  and  glancing 
over  his  left  shoulder,  Sir  Gervaise  perceived  the  Carnatic 
shooting  out  of  the  smoke,  and  imitating  his  own  move 
ment  by  making  another  and  still  ranker  sheer  to  leeward. 
At  the  same  moment  she  set  her  mainsail  close  reefed,  as 
if  determined  to  outstrip  her  antagonist  and  maintain  her 
station.  None  but  a  prime  seaman  could  have  done  such 
a  thing  so  steadily  and  so  well,  in  the  midst  of  the  wild 
haste  and  confusion  of  such  a  scene.  Sir  Gervaise,  now 
not  a  hundred  yards  from  the  Carnatic,  waved  high  his  hat 
in  exultation  and  praise  ;  and  old  Parker,  alone  on  his  own 
poop,  bared  his  gray  hairs  in  acknowledgment  of  the 
compliment.  All  this  time  the  two  ships  drove  madly 
ahead,  while  the  crash  and  roar  of  the  battle  was  heard 
astern. 

The  remaining  French  ship  was  well  and  nimbly  handled. 
As  she  came  round  she  unavoidably  sheered  toward  her 
enemies,  and  Sir  Gervaise  found  it  necessary  to  counter 
mand  his  last  order,  and  to  come  swiftly  up  to  the  wind, 
both  to  avoid  her  raking  broadside,  and  to  prevent  running 
into  his  own  consort.  But  the  Carnatic,  having  a  little 
more  room,  first  kept  off,  and  then  came  to  the  wind  again, 
as  soon  as  the  Frenchman  had  fired,  in  a  way  to  compel 
him  to  haul  up  on  the  other  tack,  or  to  fall  fairly  aboard. 
Almost  at  the  same  instant  the  Plantagenet  closed  on  his 
weather  quarter  and  raked.  Parker  had  got  abeam  and 
pressing  nearer,  he  compelled  La  Victoire  to  haul  her 
bow-lines,  bringing  her  completely  between  two  fires. 
Spar  went  after  spar,  and  being  left  with  nothing  standing 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  317 

but  the  lower  masts,  the  Plantagenet  and  Carnatic  could 
not  prevent  themselves  from  passing  their  victim,  though 
each  shortened  sail ;  the  first  being  already  without  a  top 
sail. 

Their  places,  however,  were  immediately  supplied  by  the 
Achilles  and  the  Thunderer,  both  ships  having  hauled 
down  their  staysails  to  lessen  their  way.  As  the  Blenheim 
and  Warspite  were  quite  near  astern,  and  an  eighteen- 
pound  shot  had  closed  the  earthly  career  of  the  poor  capi- 
tain  de  fregate,  his  successor  in  command  deemed  it  pru 
dent  to  lower  his  ensign  ;  after  a  resistance  that  in  its  du 
ration  was  unequal  to  the  promise  of  its  commencement. 
Still  the  ship  had  suffered  materially,  and  had  fifty  of  her 
crew  among  the  casualties.  His  submission  terminated 
the  combat. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  had  now  leisure  and  opportunity  to 
look  about  him.  Most  of  the  French  ships  had  got  round  ; 
but,  besides  being  quite  as  far  astern,  when  they  should 
get  up  abeam,  supposing  himself  to  remain  where  he  was, 
they  would  be  at  very  long  gunshot  dead  to  leeward.  To 
remain  where  he  was,  however,  formed  no  part  of  his  plan, 
for  he  was  fully  resolved  to  maintain  all  his  advantages. 
The  great  difficulty  was  to  take  possession  of  his  prize,  the 
sea  running  so  high  as  to  render  it  questionable  if  a  boat 
would  live.  Lord  Morganic,  however,  was  just  of  an  age 
and  a  temperament  to  bring  that  question  to  a  speedy 
issue.  Being  on  the  weather-beam  of  La  Victoire,  as  her 
flag  came  down,  he  ordered  his  own  first  lieutenant  into 
the  larger  cutter,  and  putting  half  a  dozen  marines,  with 
the  proper  crew,  into  the  boat,  it  \vas  soon  seen  dangling 
in  the  air  over  the  caldron  of  the  ocean  ;  the  oars  on-end. 
To  lower,  let  go,  and  unhook,  were  the  acts  of  an  instant ; 
the  oars  fell,  and  the  boat  was  swept  away  to  leeward.  A 
commander's  commission  depended  on  his  success,  and 
Daly  made  desperate  efforts  to  obtain  it.  The  prize  offered 
a  lee,  and  the  French,  with  a  national  benevolence,  cour 
tesy,  and  magnanimity  that  would  scarcely  have  been  im 
itated  had  matters  been  reversed,  threw  ropes  to  their 
conquerors,  to  help  to  rescue  them  from  a  very  awkward 
dilemma.  The  men  did  succeed  in  getting  into  the  prize  ; 
but  the  boat,  in  the  end,  was  stove  and  lost. 

The  appearance  of  the  red  flag  of  England,  the  symbol 
of  his  own  professional  rank,  and  worn  by  most  under  his 
own  orders,  over  the  white  ensign  of  France,  was  the  sign 


3i8  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

to  Sir  Gervaise  that  the  prize-officer  was  in  possession. 
He  immediately  made  the  signal  for  the  fleet  to  follow  the 
motions  of  the  Commander-in-chief.  By  this  time,  his 
own  mainsail,  close-reefed,  had  taken  the  place  of  the  torn 
topsail,  and  the  Plantagenetled  off  to  the  southward  again, 
as  if  nothing  unusual  had  occurred.  Daly  had  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  of  extreme  exertion  on  board  the  prize,  before 
he  could  get  her  fairly  in  motion  as  he  desired  ;  but,  by 
dint  of  using  the  ax  freely,  he  cut  the  wreck  adrift,  and 
soon  had  La  Victoire  liberated  from  that  incumbrance. 
The  foresail  and  fore  and  mizzen  staysails  were  on  the  ship, 
and  the  mainsail,  close-reefed  also,  was  about  to  be  set,  to 
drag  her  from  the  mclce  of  her  foes,  when  her  ensign  came 
down.  By  getting  the  tack  of  the  latter  aboard,  and  the 
sheet  aft,  he  would  have  all  the  canvas  set  the  gale  would 
allow,  and  to  this  all-essential  point  he  directed  his  \vits. 
To  ride  down  the  main-tack  of  a  two-decked  ship,  in  a  gale 
of  wind,  or  what  fell  short  of  a  real  gale,  was  not  to  be 
undertaken  with  twenty  men,  the  extent  of  Daly's  com 
mand  ;  and  he  had  recourse  to  the  assistance  of  his  ene 
mies.  A  good-natured,  facetious  Irishman,  himself,  with 
a  smattering  of  French,  he  soon  got  forty  or  fifty  of  the 
prisoners  in  a  sufficient  humor  to  lend  their  aid,  and  the 
sail  was  set,  though  not  without  risk  of  its  splitting.  From 
this  moment,  La  Victoire  was  better  off,  as  respected  the 
gale  and  keeping  a  weatherly  position,  than  anv  of  the 
English  ships  ;  inasmuch  as  she  could  carry  the  canvas 
the  wind  permitted,  while  she  was  relieved  from  the  drift 
inseparable  from  hamper  aloft.  The  eifect,  indeed,  was 
visible  in  the  first  hour,  to  Daly's  great  delight  and  exul 
tation.  At  the  end  of  that  period,  he  found  himself  quite 
.at  cable's-length  to  windward  of  the  line.  But  in  relating 
this  last  particular,  events  have  been  a  little  anticipated. 

Greenly,  who  had  gone  below  to  attend  to  the  batteries, 
which  were  not  worked  without  great  difficulty  in  so  heavy 
a  sea,  and  to  be  in  readiness  to  open  the  lower  ports  should 
occasion  offer,  reappeared  on  deck  just  as  the  Commander- 
in-chief  showed  the  signal  for  the  ships  to  follow  his  own 
motions.  The  line  was  soon  formed,  as  mentioned,  and 
erqlong  it  became  apparent  that  the  prize  could  easily 
keep  in  her  station.  As  most  of  the  day  was  still  before 
him,  Sir  Gervaise  had  little  doubt  of  being  able  to  secure 
the  latter,  ere  night  should  come  to  render  it  indispensable. 

The  Vice-admiral  and  his  captain  shook  hands  cordially 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  319 

on  the  poop,  and  the  former  pointed  out  to  the  latter,  with 
honest  exaultation,  the  result  of  his  own  bold  manoeuvres. 

"We've  clipped  the  wings  of  two  of  them,"  added  Sir 
Gervaise,  "  and  have  fairly  bagged  a  third,  my  good 
friend  ;  and  God  willing,  when  Bluewater  joins,  there  will 
not  be  much  difficulty  with  the  remainder.  I  cannot  see 
that  any  of  our  vessels  have  suffered  much,  and  I  set  them 
down  as  sound.  There's  been  time  for  a  signal  of  inability, 
that  curse  to  an  admiral's  evolutions,  but  no  one  seems 
disposed  to  make  it.  If  we  really  escape  that  nuisance,  it 
will  be  the  first  instance  in  my  life  ! " 

"  Half-a-dozen  yards  may  be  crippled,  and  no  orre  the 
worse  for  it  in  this  heavy  weather.  Were  we  under  a  press 
of  canvas,  it  would  be  a  different  matter  ;  but,  now,  so  long 
as  the  main  sticks  stand,  we  shall  probably  do  well  enough. 
I  can  find  no  injury  in  my  owrn  ship  that  may  not  be  reme 
died  at  sea." 

"  And  she  has  had  the  worst  of  it.  'Twas  a  decided 
thing,  Greenly,  to  engage  such  an  odds  in  a  gale  ;  but  we 
owe  our  success,  most  probably,  to  the  audacity  of  the  at 
tack.  Had  the  enemy  believed  it  possible,  it  is  probable 
he  would  have  frustrated  it.  Well,  Master  Galleygo,  I'm 
glad  to  see  you  unhurt !  What  is  your  pleasure  ?  " 

"  Why,  Sir  Jarvey,  I've  two  opportunities,  as  a  body  might 
say,  on  the  poop,  just  now.  One  is  to  shake  hands,  as  we 
always  does  after  a  brush,  you  knows,  sir,  and  to  look  a'ter 
each  other's  health  ;  and  the  other  is  to  report  a  misfortin 
that  will  bear  hard  on  this  day's  dinner.  You  see,  Sir  Jarvey, 
I  had  the  dead  poultry  slung  in  a  net  over  the  live  stock, 
to  be  out  of  harm's  way  ;  well,  sir,  a  shot  cut  the  Ian-yard 
and  let  all  the  chickens  down  by  the  run,  in  among  the 
gunroom  grunters;  and  as  they  never  half  feeds  them 
hanimals,  there  isn't  as  much  left  of  the  birds  as  would 
make  a  meal  for  a  sick  young  gentleman.  To  my  notion, 
no  one  ought  to  have  live  stock  but  the  commanders-in- 
chief." 

"  To  the  devil  with  you  and  the  stock  !  Give  me  a  shake 
of  the  hand,  and  back  into  your  top— how  came  you,  sir, 
to  quit  your  quarters  without  leave  ?" 

"  I  didn't,  Sir  Jarvey.  Seeing  how  things  was  agoing  on, 
among  the  pigs,  for  our  top  hoverlooks  the  awful  scene,  I 
axed  the  young  gentleman  to  let  me  come  down  to  condole 
with  your  honor ;  and  as  they  always  let  me  do  as  I  axes, 
in  such  matters,  why  down  I  come.  We  has  had  one  rat- 


320  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

tier  in  at  our  top,  howsever,  that  came  nigh  to  clear  us  all 
out  on  it !  " 

"Is  any  spar  injured?"  asked  Sir  Gervaise,  quickly. 
"This  must  be  looked  to — hey,  Greenly?" 

"  Not  to  signify,  your  honor  ;  not  to  signify.  One  of 
them  French  eighteens  aboard  the  prize  just  cocked  its 
nose  up,  as  the  ship  lurched  and  let  lly  a  round  'un  and 
a  grist  of  grape,  right  into  our  faces.  I  see'd  it  coming 
and  sung  out  '  Scaldings  ! '  and  'twas  well  I  did.  We  all 
ducked  in  time,  and  the  round  'un  cleared  everything, 
but  a  handful  of  the  marbles  are  planted  in  the  head  of  the 
mast,  making  the  spar  look  like  a  plum-pudding,  or  a 
.fellow  with  the  small-pox." 

"  Enough  of  this.  You  are  excused  from  returning  to 
the  top  ;  and,  Greenly,  beat  the  retreat.  Bunting,  show 
the  signal  for  the  retreat  from  quarters.  Let  the  ships  pipe 
to  breakfast,  if  they  will." 

This  order  affords  a  fair  picture  of  the  strange  admixture 
of  feelings  and  employments  that  characterize  the  ordinary 
life  of  a  ship.  At  one  moment,  its  inmates  finds  themselves 
engaged  in  scenes  of  wild  magnificence  and  fierce  con 
fusion,  while  at  the  next  they  revert  to  the  most  familiar 
duties  of  humanity.  The  crews  of  the  whole  fleet  now  re 
tired  from  the  guns,  and  immediately  after  they  were 
seated  around  their  kids,  indulging  ravenously  in  the  food 
for  which  the  exercise  of  the  morning  had  given  keen 
appetites. 

Still  there  was  something  of  the  sternness  of  battle  in 
the  merriment  of  this  meal,  and  the  few  jokes  that  passed 
were  seasoned  with  a  bitterness  that  is  not  usual  among 
the  light-hearted  followers  of  the  sea.  Here  and  there, 
a  messmate  was  missed,  and  the  vacancy  produced  some 
quaint  and  even  pathetic  allusion  to  his  habits,  or  to  the 
manner  in  which  he  met  his  death  ;  seamen  usually  treat 
ing  the  ravages  of  this  great  enemy  of  the  race,  after  the 
blow  has  been  struck,  with  as  much  solemnity  and  even 
tenderness,  as  they  regard  his  approaches  with  levity.  It 
is  when  spared  themselves,  that  they  most  regard  the  de 
struction  of  battle.  A  man's  standing  in  a  ship,  too,  car 
ries  great  weight  with  it,  at  such  times  ;  the  loss  of  the 
quartermaster,  in  particular,  being  much  regretted  in  the 
Plantagenet.  This  man  messed  with  a  portion  of  the  petty 
officers,  a  set  of  men  altogether  more  thoughtful  and 
grave  than  the  body  of  the  crew ;  and  who  met,  when  they 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  321 

assembled  around  their  mess-chest,  that  morning,  with  a 
sobriety  and  even  sternness  of  mien,  that  showed  how 
much  in  the  management  of  the  vessel  had  depended  on 
their  individual  exertions.  Several  minutes  elapsed  in 
the  particular  mess  of  the  dead  man,  before  a  word  was 
spoken  ;  all  eating  with  appetites  that  were  of  proof,  but 
no  one  breaking  the  silence.  At  length  an  old  quarter- 
gunner,  named  Tom  Sponge,  who  generally  led  the  dis 
course,  said  in  a  sort  of  half-inquiring,  half-regretting 
way — 

"  I  suppose  there's  no  great  use  in  asking  why  Jack 
Glass's  spoon  is  idle  this  morning.  They  says,  them  fore 
castle  chaps,  that  they  see'd  his  body  streaming  out  over 
the  starboard  quarter,  as  if  it  had  been  the  fly  of  one  of  his 
own  ensigns.  How  was  it,  Ned  ?  you  was  there-away,  and 
ought  to  know  all  about  it." 

"  To  be  sure  I  does,"  said  Ned,  who  was  Bunting's  re 
maining  assistant.  "I  was  there,  as  you  says,  and  see'd  as 
much  of  it  as  a  man  can  see  of  what  passes  between  a  poor 
fellow  and  a  shot,  when  they  comes  together,  and  that  not 
in  a  very  loving  manner.  It  happened  just  as  we  come 
upon  the  weather  beam  of  that  first  chap — him  as  we 
winged  so  hansomely  among  us.  Well,  Sir  Jarvey  had 
clapped  a  stopper  on  the  signals,  seeing  as  we  had  got 
fairly  into  the  smoke,  and  Jack  and  I  was  looking  about 
for  the  muskets,  not  knowing  but  a  chance  might  turn  up 
to  chuck  a  little  lead  into  some  of  the  parly-woos,  and  so 
says  Jack,  says  he,  'Ned,  you's  got  my  musket — as  I  had, 
sure  enough  ;  and  says  he,  *  Ned,  you's  got  my  musket ; 
but  no  matter  arter  all,  as  they're  much  of  a  muchness.' 
So  when  he'd  said  this,  he  lets  fly  ;  but  whether  he  hit  any 
body,  is  more  than  I  can  say.  If  he  did,  'twas  likely  a 
Frenchman,  as  he  shot  that-away.  '  Now,'  says  Jack,  says 
he,  *  Ned,  as  this  is  your  musket,  you  can  load  it,  and  hand 

over   mine,   and  I'll   sheet    home    another    of   the  b s.' 

Well,  at  that  moment  the  Frenchman  lifted  for'ard,  on  a 
heavy  swell,  and  let  drive  at  us,  with  all  his  forecastle  guns, 
fired  as  it  might  be  with  one  priming " 

"That  was  bad  gunnery,"  growled  Tom  Sponge,  "it 
racks  a  ship  woundily." 

"  Yes,  they'se  no   judgment  in  ships,  in   general.     Well, 

them  French  twelves  are  spiteful  guns  ;  and  a  little   afore 

they  fired,  it  seemed  to  me  I  heard  something  give  Jack  a 

rap  on  the  cheek,  that  sounded  as  if  a  fellow's  ear  was 

21 


322  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

boxed  with  a  clap  of  thunder.  I  looked  up,  and  there  was 
Jack  streaming  out  like  the  fly  of  the  ensign,  head  fore 
most,  with  the  body  towing  after  it  by  strings  in  the  neck." 

"  I  thought  when  a  fellow's  head  was  shot  off,"  put  in 
another  quartermaster,  named  Ben  Barrel,  "that  the  body 
was  left  in  the  ship  while  only  the  truck  \vent ! 

"  That  comes  of  not  seeing  them  things,  Ben,"  rejoined 
the  eye-witness.  "A  fellow's  head  is  stayed  in  its  berth 
just  like  a  ship's  mast.  There's  for'ard  and  back  stays,  and 
shrouds,  all's  one  as  aboard  here  ;  the  only  difference  is 
that  the  lanyards  are  a  little  looser,  so  as  to  give  a  man 
more  play  for  his  head,  than  it  might  be  safe  to  give  to  a 
mast.  When  a  fellow  makes  a  bow,  why  he  only  comes 
up  a  little  aft,  and  and  bowses  on  the  fore  stay,  and  now 
and  then  you  falls  in  with  a  chap  that  is  stayed  altogether 
too  far  for'ard,  or  who's  got  a  list  perhaps  from  having  the 
shrouds  set  up  too  taut  to  port  or  to  starboard." 

"That  sounds  reasonable,"  put  in  the  quarter-gunner, 
gravely;  "I've  seen  such  drogers  myself." 

"If  you'd  been  on  the  poop  an  hour  or  two  ago,  you'd 
ha'  seen  more  on  it !  Now  there's  all  our  mariners,  their 
backstays  have  had  a  fresh  pull  since  they  were  launched, 
and  as  for  their  captain  I'll  warrant  you,  he  had  luff  upon 
luff!" 

"I've  heard  the  carpenter  overhauling  them  matters," 
remarked  Sam  Wad,  another  quarter-gunner,  "and  he 
chalked  it  all  around  with  a  square  and  compass.  It  seems 
reasonable,  too." 

"  If  I'd  seen  Jack's  head  dragging  his  body  overboard, 
just  like  the  Frenchman  dragging  his  wreck  under  his  lee, 
you'd  ha' thought  itreasonable.  What's  a  fellows  shoulders, 
for,  but  to  give  a  spread  to  his  shrouds,  which  lead  down 
to  the  neck  and  are  set  up  under  the  arms  somewhere. 
They  says  a  great  deal  about  the  heart,  and  I  reckon  it's 
likely  everything  is  key'd  there." 

"  Harkee,  Ned,"  observed  a  quartermaster,  who  knew  a 
little  more  than  the  mess  generally  ;  "if  what  you  say  is 
true,  why  don't  these  shrouds  lead  straight  from  the  head 
to  the  shoulders,  instead  of  being  all  tucked  up  under  a 
skin  in  the  neck  !  Answer  me  that,  now." 

"Who  the  devil  ever  saw  a  ship's  shrouds  that  wasn't 
cat-harpened  in!"  exclaimed  Ned,  with  some  heat.  "A 
pretty  hand  a  wife  would  make  of  it,  in  putting  her  arms 
around  a  fellow's  neck,  if  the  rigging  spread  in  the  way 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  323 

you  mean  !  Them  things  is  all  settled  according  to  reason 
when  a  chap's  keel's  laid." 

This  last  argument  seemed  to  dispose  of  the  matter,  the 
discourse  gradually  turning  on,  and  confining  itself  to  the 
merits  of  the  deceased. 

Sir  Gervaise  had  directed  Galleygo  to  prepare  his  break 
fast  as  soon  as  the  people  were  piped  to  their  own  ;  but 
he  was  still  detained  on  deck  in  consequence  of  a  move 
ment  in  one  of  his  vessels,  to  which  it  has  now  become 
necessary  more  particularly  to  recur. 

The  appearance  of  the  Druid  to  the  northward,  early  in 
the  morning,  will  doubtless  be  remembered  by  the  reader. 
When  near  enough  to  have  it  made  out,  this  frigate  had 
shown  her  number;  after  which  she  rested  satisfied  with 
carrying  sail  much  harder  than  any  vessel  in  sight.  When 
the  fleets  engaged,  she  made  an  effort  to  set  the  foretop- 
sail,  close-reefed,  but  several  of  the  critics  in  the  other 
ships,  who  occasionally  noticed  her  movements,  fancied 
that  some  accident  must  have  befallen  her,  as  the  canvas 
was  soon  taken  in,  and  she  appeared  disposed  to  remain 
content  with  the  sail  carried  when  first  seen.  As  this  ship 
was  materially  to  windward  of  the  line,  and  she  was  run 
ning  at  the  time  a  little  free,  her  velocity  was  much  greater 
than  that  of  the  other  vessels,  and  by  this  time  she  had 
got  so  near  that  Sir  Gervaise  observed  that  she  was  fairly 
abeam  of  the  Plantagenet,  and  a  little  to  the  leeward  of 
the  Active.  Of  course  her  hull,  even  to  the  bottom,  as  she 
rose  on  a  sea,  was  plainly  visible,  and  such  of  her  people 
as  were  in  the  tops  and  rigging  could  be  easily  distin 
guished  by  the  naked  eye. 

"The  Druid  must  have  some  communication  for  us 
from  the  other  division  of  the  fleet,"  observed-  the  Vice- 
admiral  to  his  signal-officer,  as  they  stood  watching  the 
movements  of  the  fleet ;  "  it  is  a  little  extraordinary  Blewet 
does  not  signal  !  Look  at  the  book,  and  find  me  a  ques 
tion  to  put  that  will  ask  his  errand." 

Bunting  was  in  the  act  of  turning  over  the  leaves  of  his 
little  vocabulary  of  questions  and  answers,  when  three  or 
four  dark  balls,  that  Sir  Gervaise,  by  the  aid  of  the  glass, 
saw  suspended  between  frigate's  masts,  opened  into  flags, 
effectually  proving  that  Blewet  was  not  absolutely  asleep. 

"Four  hundred  and  sixteen,  ordinary  communication," 
observed  the  Vice-admiral,  with  his  eye  still  at  the  glass. 
"  Look  in  that,  Bunting,  and  let  us  know  what  it  means." 


324  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  '  The  Commander-in-chief — wish  to  speak  him  ! '  "  read 
Bunting,  in  the  customary  formal  manner  in  which  he  an 
nounced  the  purport  of  a  signal. 

"  Very  well — answer  ;  then  make  the  Druid's  number  to 
come  within  hail !  The  fellow  has  cloth  enough  spread  to 
travel  two  feet  to  our  one  ;  let  him  edge  away  and  come 
under  our  lee.  Speaking  will  be  rather  close  wrork  to 
day." 

"  I  doubt  if  a  ship  can  come  near  enough  to  make  her 
self  heard,"  returned  the  other,  "though  the  second  lieu 
tenant  of  that  ship  never  uses  a  trumpet  in  the  heaviest 
weather,  they  tell  me,  sir.  Our  gents  say  his  father  was  a 
town-crier,  and  that  he  has  inherited  the  family  estate." 

"  Aye,  our  gents  are  a  set  of  saucy  follows,  as  is  usually 
the  case  when  there  isn't  work  enough  aboard." 

"You  should  make  a  little  allowance,  Sir  Gervaise,  for 
being  in  the  ship  of  a  successful  commander-in-chief. 
That  makes  us  all  carry  weather-helms  among  the  other 
messes." 

"  Up  with  your  signal,  sir  ;  up  with  your  signal.  I  shall 
be  obliged  to  order  Greenly  to  put  you  upon  watch-and- 
watch  for  a  month,  in  order  to  bring  you  down  to  the  old 
level  of  manners." 

"  Signal  answered,  already,  Sir  Gervaise.  By  the  way, 
sir,  I'll  thank  you  to  request  Captain  Greenly  to  give  me 
another  quartermaster.  It's  nimble  work  for  us  when 
there  is  anything  serious  to  do." 

"You  shall  have  him,  Bunting,"  returned  the  Vice-ad 
miral,  a  shade  passing  over  his  face  for  the  moment.  "  I 
had  missed  poor  Jack  Glass,  and  from  seeing  a  spot  of 
blood  on  the  poop,  guessed  his  fate.  I  fancied,  indeed,  I 
heard  a  shot  strike  something  behind  me." 

"  It  struck  the  poor  fellow's  head,  sir,  and  made  a  noise 
as  if  a  butcher  were  felling  an  ox." 

"Well,  well,  let  us  try  to  forget  it,  until  something  can 
be  done  for  his  son,  who  is  one  of  the  side  boys.  Ah  ! 
there's  Blewet  keeping  away  in  earnest.  How  the  deuce 
he  is  to  speak  to  us,  however,  is  more  than  I  can  tell." 

Sir  Gervaise  now  sent  a  message  to  his  captain  to  say 
that  he  desired  his  presence.  Greenly  soon  appeared,  and 
was  made  acquainted  with  the  intention  of  the  Druid,  as 
well  as  with  the  purport  of  the  last  signals.  By  this  time, 
the  rent  main-topsail  was  mended,  and  the  Captain  sug 
gested  it  should  be  set  again,  close-reefed,  as  before,  and 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  325 

that  the  mainsail  should  be  taken  in.  This  would  lessen 
the  Plantagenet's  way,  which  ship  was  sensibly-  drawing 
ahead  of  her  consorts.  Sir  Gervaise  assenting,  the  change 
was  made,  and  the  effects  were  soon  apparent,  not  only  in 
the  movement  of  the  ship,  but  in  her  greater  ease  and 
steadiness  of  motion. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  Druid  was  within  a  hundred 
fathoms  of  the  flag-ship,  on  her  weather-quarter,  shoving 
the  brine  before  her  in  a  way  to  denote  a  fearful  momen 
tum.  It  was  evidently  the  intention  of  Captain  Blewet  to 
cross  the  Plantagenet's  stern,  and  to  luff  up  under  her  lee- 
quarter ;  the  safest  point  at  which  he  could  approach,  in 
so  heavy  a  swell,  provided  it  were  done  with  discretion. 
Captain  Blewet  had  a  reputation  for  handling  his  frigate 
like  a  boat,  and  the  occasion  was  one  which  would  be 
likely  to  awaken  all  his  desire  to  sustain  the  character  he 
had  already  earned.  Still  no  one  could  imagine  how  he 
was  to  come  near  enough  to  make  a  communication  of 
any  length.  The  stentorian  lungs  of  the  second  lieutenant, 
however,  might  effect  it  ;  and,  as  the  news  of  the  expected 
hail  passed  through  the  ship,  many  who  had  remained  be 
low,  in  apathy,  while  the  enemy  was  close  under  their  lee, 
came  on  deck,  curious  to  witness  what  was  about  to  pass. 

"  Hey,  Atwood  ! "  exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise,  for  the  little 
excitement  had  brought  the  secretary  up  from  the  Com 
mander  in-chief 's  cabin  ;  "what  is  Blewet  at  ?  The  fellow 
cannot  mean  to  set  a  studding-sail ! " 

*'  He  is  running  out  a  boom,  nevertheless,  Sir  Gervaise, 
or  my  thirty  years'  experience  of  nautical  things  has  been 
thrown  away." 

"  He  is  truly  rigging  out  his  weather  fore-top-mast- 
studding-sail-boom,  sir ! "  added  Greenly,  in  a  tone  of 
wonder. 

"It  is  out,"  rejoined  the  Vice-admiral,  as  one  would 
give  emphasis  to  the  report  of  a  calamity.  "  Hey  ! — what  ? 
Isn't  that  a  man  they're  running  up  to  the  end  of  it,  Bunt 
ing  ?  Level  your  glass,  and  let  us  know  at  once." 

"'A  glass  is  not  necessary  to  make  out  that  much,  Sir 
Gervaise.  It  is  a  man,  beyond  a  doubt,  and  there  he 
hangs  at  the  boom-end,  as  if  sentenced  by  a  general  court- 
martial." 

Sir  Gervaise  now  suppressed  every  expression  of  sur 
prise,  and  his  reserve  was  imitated,  quite  as  a  matter  of 
course,  by  the  twenty  officers,  who,  by  this  time,  had 


326  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

assembled  on  the  poop.  The  Druid,  keeping  away, 
approached  rapidly,  and  had  soon  crossed  the  flag-ship's 
wake. 

Here  she  came  by  the  wind,  and  favored  by  the  mo 
mentum  with  which  she  had  come  down,  and  the  addition 
of  the  mainsail,  drew  heavily  but  steadily  up  on  her  lee- 
quarter.  Both  vessels  being  close-hauled,  it  was  not  diffi 
cult  steering  ;  and  by  watching  the  helms  closely,  it  would 
have  been  possible,  perhaps,  notwithstanding  the  heavy 
sea,  to  have  brought  the  two  hulls  within  ten  yards  of 
each  other,  and  no  harm  should  come  of  it.  This  was 
nearer,  however,  than  it  was  necessary  to  approach  ;  the 
studding-sail-boom,  with  the  man  suspended  on  the  end  of 
it,  projecting  twice  that  distance,  beyond  the  vessel's  bows. 
Still  it  was  nice  work — and  while  yet  some  thirty  or  forty 
feet  from  the  perpendicular,  the  man  on  the  boom-end 
made  a  sign  for  attention,  swung  a  coil  of  line  he  held,  and 
when  he  saw  hands  raised  to  catch  it,  he  made  a  cast.  A 
lieutenant  caught  the  rope,  and  instantly  hauled  in  the 
slack.  As  the  object  was  now  understood,  a  dozen  others 
laid  hold  of  the  line,  and,  at  a  common  signal,  when  those 
on  board  the  Plantagenet  hauled  in  strongly,  the  people 
of  the  Druid  lowered  away.  By  this  simple,  but  united 
movement,  the  man  descended  obliquely,  leaping  out  of 
the  bow  line  in  which  he  had  sat,  and  casting  the  whip 
adrift.  Shaking  himself  to  gain  his  foot,  he  raised  his  cap 
and  bowed  to  Sir  Gervaise,  who  now  saw  Wycherly 
Wychecombe  on  his  poop. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Yet  weep  not  thou — the  struggle  is  not  o'er, 

O  victors  of  Philippi !  many  a  field 
Hath  yielded  palms  to  us  ;  one  effort  more, 

By  one  stem  conflict  must  our  fate  be  sealed. — MRS.  HEMANS. 

As  soon  as  the  people  of  the  Plantagenet,  who  had  so 
far  trespassed  on  discipline,  when  they  perceived  a  man 
hanging  at  the  end  of  the  studding-sail-boom,  as  to  appear 
in  the  rigging,  on  the  booms,  and  on  the  guns,  to  watch 
the  result,  saw  the  stranger  safely  landed  on  the  poop, 
they  lifted  their  hats  and  caps,  and,  as  one  voice,  greeted 
him  with  three  cheers.  The  officers  smiled  at  this  out- 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  327 

break  of  feeling,  and  the  violation  of  usage  was  forgotten; 
the  rigid  discipline  of  a  man-of-war  even  giving  way 
occasionally  to  the  sudden  impulses  of  natural  feeling. 

As  the  Druid  approached  the  flag-ship,  Captain  Blewet 
had  appeared  in  her  weather  mizzen-rigging,  conning  his 
vessel  in  person  ;  and  the  order  to  luff,  or  keep  off,  had 
been  given  by  his  own  voice,  or  by  a  gesture  of  his 
own  hand.  As  soon  as  he  saw  Wycherly's  feet  on  the 
poop  of  the  Plantagenet,  and  his  active  form  freed  from 
the  double  bow  line,  in  which  it  had  been  seated,  the 
Captain  made  a  w7ide  sweep  of  the  arm,  to  denote  his  de 
sire  to  edge  away  ;  the  helm  of  the  frigate  was  borne  up 
hard,  and,  as  the  two-decker  surged  ahead  on  the  bosom 
of  a  sea,  the  Druid's  bows  \vere  knocked  off  to  leeward, 
leaving  a  space  of  about  a  hundred  feet  or  more,  between 
the  two  ships,  as  it  might  be,  in  an  instant.  The  same 
causes  continuing  to  operate,  the  Plantagenet  drove  still 
farther  ahead,  while  the  frigate  soon  came  to  the  wind 
again,  a  cable's-length  to  leeward,  and  abreast  of  the  space 
between  the  Admiral  and  his  second  astern.  Here, 
Captain  Blewet  seemed  disposed  to  wait  for  farther  orders. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  was  not  accustomed  to  betray  any 
surprise  he  might  feel  at  little  events  that  occurred  on 
duty.  He  returned  the  bow  of  Wycherly,  coolly,  and 
then,  without  question  or  play  of  feature,  turned  his  eyes 
on  the  further  movements  of  the  Druid.  Satisfied  that  all 
was  right  with  the  frigate,  he  directed  the  messenger  to 
follow  him,  and  he  \vent  belowr  himself,  leaving  Wycherly 
to  obey  as  fast  as  the  many  inquiries  he  had  to  answer  as 
he  descended  the  ladders  would  allow.  Atwood,  an  in 
terested  observer  of  what  had  passed,  noted  that  Captain 
Greenly,  of  all  present,  was  the  only  person  who  seemed 
indifferent  to  the  nature  of  the  communication  the  stranger 
might  bring,  though  perhaps  the  only  one  entitled  by  rank 
to  put  an  interrogatory. 

"  You  have  come  aboard  of  us  in  a  novel  and  extraordi 
nary  mode,  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe !  "  observed  the  Vice- 
admiral,  a  little  severely,  as  soon  as  he  found  himself  in 
his  own  cabin,  alone  with  the  Lieutenant. 

"  It  wras  the  plan  of  Captain  Blewet,  sir,  and  was  really 
the  only  one  that  seemed  likely  to  succeed,  fora  boat  could 
scarcely  live.  I  trust  the  success  of  the  experiment,  and 
the  nature  of  the  communications  I  may  bring,  will  be 
thought  sufficient  excuses  for  the  want  of  ceremony." 


328  THE    TJVO  ADMIRALS. 

"It  is  the  first  time,  since  the  days  of  the  Conqueror,  I 
fancy,  that  an  English  Vice-admiral's  ship  has  been 
boarded  so  cavalierly  ;  but,  as  you  say,  the  circumstances 
may  justify  the  innovation.  What  is  your  errand,  sir?" 

"  This  letter,  I  presume,  Sir  Gervaise,  will  explain  itself. 
I  have  little  to  say  in  addition,  except  to  report  that  the 
Druid  has  sprung  her  foremast  in  carrying  sail  to  close 
with  you,  and  that  we  have  not  lost  a  moment  since 
Admiral  Bluewater  ordered  us  to  part  company  with  him 
self." 

"  You  sailed  on  board  the  Caesar,  then  ? "  asked  Sir  Ger 
vaise,  a  great  deal  modified  by  the  zeal  for  service  in  a 
youth,  situated  ashore  as  he  knew  Wycherly  to  be.  "You 
left  her  with  this  letter  ?  " 

"I  did,  Sir  Gervaise,  at  Admiral  Bluewater's  command." 

"  Did  you  go  aboard  the  Druid  boom-fashion,  or  was 
that  peculiar  style  reserved  for  the  Commander-in-chief?" 

"  I  left  the  Caesar  in  a  boat,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  and  though 
we  were  much  nearer  in  with  the  coast,  where  the  wind 
has  not  the  rake  it  has  here,  and  the  strength  of  the  gale 
had  not  then  come,  we  were  nearly  swamped." 

"  If  a  true  Virginian,  you  would  not  have  drowned, 
Wychecombe,"  answered  the  Vice-admiral,  in  better  hu 
mor.  "  You  Americans  swim  like  cork.  Excuse  me,  while 
I  read  what  Admiral  Bluewater  has  to  say." 

Sir  Gervaise  had  received  Wycherly  in  the  great  cabin, 
standing  at  the  table  which  was  lashed  in  its  centre.  He 
would  have  been  puzzled  himself,  perhaps,  to  have  given 
the  real  reason  why  he  motioned  to  the  young  man  to  take 
a  chair,  while  he  went  into  what  he  called  his  "  drawing- 
room  ; "  or  the  beautiful  little  apartment  between  the  two 
state-rooms,  aft,  which  was  fitted  with  an  elegance  that 
might  have  been  admired  in  a  more  permanent  dwelling, 
and  whither  he  always  withdrew  Avhen  disposed  to  reflec 
tion.  It  was  probably  connected,  however,  with  a  latent 
apprehension  of  the  Rear-admiral's  political  bins,  for, 
when  by  himself,  he  paused  fully  a  minute  before  he 
opened  the  letter.  Condemning  this  hesitation  as  un 
manly,  he  broke  the  seal,  however,  and  read  the  contents 
of  a  letter,  which  was  couched  in  the  following  terms : 

"  MY  DEAROAKES  :  Since  we  parted,  my  mind  has  under 
gone  some  violent  misgivings  as  to  the  course  duty  re 
quires  of  me,  in  this  great  crisis.  One  hand — one  heart — 


THE    TWO  ADMIRJ^ft.  329 

one  voice  even,  may  decide  the  fate  of  En%fc$MJv^rn  -such 
circumstances,  all  should  listen  to  the  voice  oTconsHeiice, 
and  endeavor  to  foresee  the  consequences  of  their  own 
acts.  Confidential  agents  are  in  the  west  of  England,  and 
one  of  them  I  have  seen.  By  his  communications  I  find 
more  depends  on  myself  than  I  could  have  imagined,  and 
more  on  the  movements  of  M.  de  Vervillin.  Do  not  be  too 
sanguine — take  time  for  your  own  decisions,  and  grant  me 
time  ;  for  I  feel  like  a  wretch  whose  fate  must  soon  be 
sealed.  On  no  account  engage,  because  you  think  this 
division  near  enough  to  sustain  you,  but  at  least  keep  off 
until  you  hear  from  me  more  positively,  or  we  can  meet. 
I  find  it  equally  hard  to  strike  a  blow  against  my  rightful 
prince,  or  to  desert  my  friend.  For  God's  sake  act  pru 
dently,  and  depend  on  seeing  me  in  the  course  of  the  next 
twenty-four  hours.  I  shall  keep  well  to  the  eastward,  in 
the  hope  of  falling  in  with  you,  as  I  feel  satisfied  De  Ver 
villin  has  nothing  to  do  very  far  west.  I  may  send  some 
verbal  message  by  the  bearer,  for  my  thoughts  come  slug 
gishly,  and  with  great  reluctance. 

"  Ever  yours, 

"  RICHARD  BLUEWATER." 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  read  this  letter  twice  with  great  de 
liberation  ;  then  he  crushed  it  in  his  hand,  as  one  would 
strangle  a  deadly  serpent.  Not  satisfied  with  this  mani 
festation  of  distaste,  he  tore  the  letter  into  pieces  so  small 
as  to  render  it  impossible  to  imagine  its  contents,  opened  a 
cabin-window,  and  threw  the  fragments  into  the  ocean. 
When  he  fancied  that  every  sign  of  his  friend's  weakness 
had  thus  been  destroyed,  he  began  to  pace  the  cabin  in  his 
usual  manner.  Wyclierly  heard  his  step,  and  wondered  at 
the  delay  ;  but  his  duty  compelled  him  to  pass  an  uncom 
fortable  half-hour  in  silence,  ere  the  door  opened,  and  Sir 
Gervaise  appeared.  The  latter  had  suppressed  the  signs 
of  distress,  though  the  Lieutenant  could  perceive  he  was 
unusually  anxious. 

"  Did  the  Rear-admiral  send  any  message,  SirWycherly?" 
inquired  Sir  Gervaise  ;  "  in  his  letter  he  would  seem  to  re 
fer  me  to  some  verbal  explanations  from  yourself." 

"I  am  ashamed  to  say,  sir,  none  that  I  can  render  very 
intelligible.  Admiral  Blue  water,  certainly,  did  make  a 
few  communications  that  I  was  to  repeat,  but  when  we  had 
parted,  by  some  extraordinary  dulness  of  my  own  I  fear,  I 


330  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

find  it  is  out  of  my  power  to  give  them  any  very  great  dis 
tinctness  or  connection." 

"  Perhaps  the  fault  is  less  your  own,  sir,  than  his.  Blue- 
water  is  addicted  to  fits  of  absence  of  mind,  and  then  he 
has  no  reason  to  complain  that  others  do  not  understand 
him,  for  he  does  not  always  understand  himself." 

Sir  Gervaise  said  this  with  a  little  glee,  delighted  at  find 
ing  his  friend  had  not  committed  himself  to  his  messenger. 
The  latter,  however,  was  less  disposed  to  excuse  himself 
by  such  a  process,  inasmuch  as  he  felt  certain  that  the 
Rear-admiral's  feelings  were  in  the  matter  he  communi 
cated,  let  the  manner  have  been  what  it  might. 

"  I  do  not  think  we  can  attribute  anything  to  Admiral 
Bluewater's  absence  of  mind,  on  this  occasion,  sir,"  an 
swered  Wycherly,  with  generous  frankness.  "  His  feelings 
appeared  to  be  strongly  enlisted  in  what  he  said.  It  might 
have  been  owing  to  the  strength  of  these  feelings  that  he 
was  a  little  obscure,  but  it  could  not  have  been  owing  to 
indifference." 

"  I  shall  best  understand  the  matter,  then,  by  hearing 
what  he  did  say,  sir." 

Wycherly  paused  and  endeavored  to  recall  what  had 
passed,  in  a  way  to  make  it  intelligible. 

"  I  was  frequently  told  to  caution  you  not  to  engage  the 
French,  sir,  until  the  other  division  had  closed,  and  was 
ready  to  assist.  But,  really,  whether  this  was  owing  to 
some  secret  information  that  the  Rear-admiral  had  ob 
tained,  or  to  a  natural  desire  to  have  a  share  in  the  battle, 
is  more  than  I  can  say." 

"  Each  may  have  had  its  influence.  Was  any  allusion 
made  to  secret  intelligence,  that  you  name  it  ? " 

"  I  never  felt  more  cause  to  be  ashamed  of  my  dulness, 
than  at  this  present  moment,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,"  ex 
claimed  Wycherly,  who  almost  writhed  under  the  awk 
wardness  of  his  situation  ;  for  he  really  began  to  suspect 
that  his  own  personal  grounds  of  unhappiness  had  induced 
him  to  forget  some  material  part  of  his  message  ;  "recent 
events  ashore  have  perhaps  disqualified  me  for  this  duty." 

"  It  is  natural  it  should  be  so,  my  young  friend  ;  and  as 
I  am  acquainted  with  them  all,  you  can  rest  satisfied  with 
my  indulgence." 

"  All  !  no — Sir  Gervaise,  you  know  not  half  ;  but,  I  for 
get  myself,  sir,  and  beg  your  pardon." 

"  I  have  no  wish  to  pry  into  your  secrets,  Sir  Wycherly 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  331 

Wychecombe,  and  we  will  drop  the  subject.  You  may  say, 
however,  if  the  Rear-admiral  was  in  "good  spirits — as  an 
English  seaman  is  apt  to  be,  with  the  prospect  of  a  great 
battle  before  him." 

"  I  thought  not,  Sir  Gervaise.  Admiral  Bluewater  to 
me  seemed  sad,  if  I  may  presume  to  mention  it — almost  to 
tears,  I  thought,  sir,  once  or  twice." 

"Poor  Dick!"  mentally  ejaculated  the  Vice-admiral; 
"  he  never  could  have  made  up  his  mind  to  desert  me 
without  great  anguish  of  soul.  Was  there  any  thing  said," 
speaking  aloud,  "about  the  fleet  of  M.  de  Vervillin  ?" 

"  Certainly,  a  good  deal  sir  ;  and  yet  I  am  ashamed  to 
say,  I  scarce  know  what  !  Admiral  Bluewater  appeared 
to  think  the  Comte  de  Vervillin  had  no  intention  to  strike 
a  blow  at  any  of  our  colonies,  and  with  this  he  seemed  to 
connect  the  idea  that  there  would  be  less  necessity  for  our 
engaging  him.  At  all  events,  I  cannot  be  mistaken  in  his 
wish  that  you  would  keep  off,  sir,  until  he  could  close." 

"Aye,  and  you  see  how  instinctively  I  have  answered  to 
his  wishes  !  "  said  Sir  Gervaise,  smiling  a  little  bitterly. 
"  Nevertheless,  had  the  rear  of  the  fleet  been  up  this 
morning,  Sir  Wycherly,  it  might  have  been  a  glorious  day 
for  England ! " 

"  It  has  been  a  glorious  day,  as  it  is,  sir.  We,  in  the 
Druid,  saw  it  all  ;  and  there  was  not  one  among  us  that 
did  not  exult  in  the  name  of  Englishman  !  " 

"What,  even  to  the  Virginian,  Wychecombe  !  "  rejoined 
Sir  Gervaise,  greatly  gratified  with  the  natural  commenda 
tion  conveyed  in  the  manner  and  words  of  the  other,  and 
looking  in  a  smiling,  friendly  manner  at  the  young  man. 
"I  was  afraid  the  hits  you  got  in  Devonshire  might  have 
induced  you  to  separate  your  nationality  from  that  of  old 
England." 

"  Even  to  the  Virginian,  Sir  Gervaise.  You  have  been 
in  the  colonies,  sir,  and  must  know  we  do  not  merit  all  that 
we  sometimes  receive,  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  The 
King  has  no  subjects  more  loyal  than  those  of  America." 

"  I  am  fully  aware  of  it,  my  noble  lad,  and  have  told  the 
King  as  much  with  my  own  mouth.  But  think  no  more  of 
this.  If  your  uncle  did  give  you  an  occasional  specimen 
of  true  John  Bullism,  he  has  left  you  an  honorable  title 
and  a  valuable  estate.  I  shall  see  that  Greenly  finds  a 
berth  for  you,  and  you  will  consent  to  mess  with  me,  I 
hope.  I  trust  sometime  to  see  you  at  Bowldero.  At  pres- 


332  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

ent  we  will  go  on  deck  ;  and  if  anything  that  Admiral 
Bluewater  has  said  should  recur  to  your  mind  more  dis 
tinctly,  you  will  not  forget  to  let  me  know  it." 

Wycherly  now  bowed  and  left  the  cabin,  while  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  sat  down  and  wrote  a  note  to  Greenly  to  request  that 
he  would  look  a  little  after  the  comfort  of  the  young  man. 
The  latter  then  went  on  deck,  in  person.  Although  he 
endeavored  to  shake  off  the  painful  doubts  that  beset  him, 
and  to  appear  as  cheerful  as  became  an  officer  who  had 
just  performed  a  brilliant  exploit,  the  Vice-admiral  found 
it  difficult  to  conceal  the  shock  he  had  received  from  Blue- 
water's  communication.  Certain  as  he  felt  of  striking  a 
decisive  blow  at  the  enemy,  could  he  be  reinforced  with 
the  five  ships  of  the  rear  division,  he  would  cheerfully 
forego  the  triumph  of  such  additional  success,  to  be  certain 
his  friend  did  not  intend  to  carry  his  disaffection  to  overt 
acts.  He  found  it  hard  to  believe  that  a  man  like  Blue- 
water  could  really  contemplate  carrying  off  with  him  the 
ships  he  commanded  ;  yet  he  knew  the  authority  his  friend 
wielded  over  his  captains,  and  the  possibility  of  such  a 
step  would  painfully  obtrude  itself  on  his  mind,  at  mo 
ments.  "  When  a  man  can  persuade  himself  ir.to  all  the 
nonsense  connected  with  the  jus  divinum"  thought  Sir 
Gervaise,  "  it  is  doing  no  great  violence  to  common  sense 
to  persuade  himself  into  all  its  usually  admitted  conse 
quences."  Then,  again,  would  interpose  his  recollections 
of  Bluewater's  integrity  and  simplicity  of  character,  to 
reassure  him,  and  give  him  more  cheering  hopes  for  the 
result.  Finding  himself  thus  vacillating  between  hope  and 
dread,  the  Commander-in-chief  determined  to  drive  the 
matter  temporarily  from  his  mind,  by  bestowing  his  atten 
tion  on  the  part  of  the  fleet  he  had  witli  him.  Just  as  this 
wise  resolution  was  formed,  both  Greenly  and  Wycherly 
appeared  on  the  poop. 

"I  am  glad  to  see  you  with  a  hungry  look,  Greenly," 
cried  Sir  Gervaise,  cheerfully  ;  "  here  has  Galleygo  just 
been  to  report  his  breakfast,  and,  as  I  know  your  cabin 
has  been  put  in  order  since  the  people  left  the  guns,  I 
hope  for  the  pleasure  of  your  company.  Sir  Wycherly, 
my  gallant  young  Virginian,  here,  will  take  the  third  chair, 
I  trust,  and  then  our  party  will  be  complete." 

The  two  gentlemen  assenting,  the  Vice-admiral  was 
about  to  lead  the  way  below,  when  suddenly  arresting  his 
footsteps,  on  the  poop-ladder,  he  said — 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  333 

"  Did  you  not  tell  me,  Wychecombe,  that  the  Druid  had 
sprung  her  foremast  ?  " 

"  Badly,  I  believe,  Sir  Gervaise,  in  the  hounds.  Captain 
Blewit  carried  on  his  ship  fearfully,  all  night." 

"Aye,  he's  a  fearful  fellow  with  spars,  that  Tom  Blewit. 
I  never  felt  certain  of  finding  all  the  sticks  in  their  places, 
on  turning  out  of  a  morning,  when  he  was  with  you  as  a 
lieutenant,  Greenly.  How  many  jib-booms  and  topgallant 
yards  did  he  cost  us,  in  that  cruise  off  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  ?  By  George,  it  must  have  been  a  dozen,  at  least ! " 

"  Not  quite  as  bad  as  that,  Sir  Gervaise,  though  he  did 
expend  two  jib-booms  and  three  topgallant  yards,  for  me. 
Captain  Blewit  has  a  fast  ship,  and  he  wishes  people  to 
know  it." 

"  And  he  has  sprung  his  foremast,  and  he  shall  see  / 
know  it !  Harkee,  Bunting,  make  the  Druid's  number  to 
lie  by  the  prize  ;  and  when  that's  answered,  tell  him  to 
take  charge  of  the  Frenchman,  and  to  wait  for  farther 
orders.  I'll  send  him  to  Plymouth  to  get  a  new  foremast, 
and  to  see  the  stranger  in.  By  the  way,  does  anybody 
know  the  name  of  the  Frenchman — hey,  Greenly?" 

"  I  cannot  tell  you,  Sir  Gervaise,  though  some  of  our 
gentlemen  think  it  is  the  ship  that  was  the  Admiral's 
second  ahead,  in  our  brush  off  Cape  Finisterre.  I  am  not 
of  the  same  opinion,  however  ;  for  that  vessel  had  a  billet- 
head,  and  this  has  a  woman  figure-head,  that  looks  a  little 
like  a  Minerva.  The  French  have  a  La  Minerve,  I  think." 

"  Not  now,  Greenly,  if  this  be  she,  for  she  is  ours."  Here 
Sir  Gervaise  laughed  heartily  at  his  own  humor,  and  all 
near  him  joined  in,  as  a  matter  of  course.  "  But  La  Mi- 
nerve  has  been  a  frigate  time  out  of  mind.  The  Goddess  of 
Wisdom  has  never  been  fool  enough  to  get  into  a  line  of 
battle  when  she  has  had  it  in  her  power  to  prevent  it." 

"We  thought  the  figure-head  of  the  prize  a  Venus,  as 
we  passed  her  \vith  the  Druid,"  Wycherly  modestly  ob 
served. 

"  There  is  a  way  of  knowing,  and  it  shall  be  tried.  When 
you've  done  with  the  Druid,  Bunting,  make  the  prize's 
signal  to  repeat  her  name  by  telegraph.  You  know  how 
to  make  a  prize's  number,  I  suppose,  when  she  has  none  ?" 

"I  confess  I  do  not,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  Bunting, 
who  had  shown  by  his  manner  that  he  was  at  a  loss. 
"  Having  no  number  in  our  books,  one  would  be  at  a  stand 
how  to  get  at  her,  sir." 


334  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

"  How  would  you  do  it,  young  man  ? "  asked  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,  who  all  this  time  was  hanging  on  to  the  man-rope 
of  the  poop-ladder.  "Let  us  see  how  well  you've  been 
taught,  sir." 

"  I  believe  it  may  be  done  in  different  modes,  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,"  Wycherly  answered,  without  any  appearance  of 
triumph  at  his  superior  readiness,  "but  the  simplest  I 
know  is  to  hoist  the  French  flag  under  the  English,  by 
way  of  saying  for  whom  the  signal  is  intended." 

"  Do  it,  Bunting,"  continued  Sir  Gervaise,  nodding  his 
head  as  he  descended  the  ladder,  "and  1  warrant  you, 
Daly  will  answer.  What  sort  of  work  he  will  make  with 
the  Frenchman's  flags,  is  another  matter.  I  doubt,  too,  if 
he  had  the  wit  to  carry  one  of  our  books  with  him,  in 
which  case  he  will  be  at  a  loss  to  read  our  signal.  Try 
him,  however,  Bunting  ;  an  Irishman  always  has  some 
thing  to  say,  though  it  be  a  bull." 

This  order  given,  Sir  Gervaise  descended  to  his  cabin. 
In  half  an  hour  the  party  was  seated  at  table,  as  quietly  as 
if  nothing  unusual  had  occurred  that  day. 

"The  worst  of  these  little  brushes  which  lead  to  nothing 
is,  that  they  leave  as  strong  a  smell  of  gunpowder  in  your 
cabin,  Greenly,  as  if  a  whole  fleet  had  been  destroyed,'' 
observed  the  Vice-admiral  good-humoredly,  as  he  began 
to  help  his  guests.  "  I  hope  the  odor  we  have  here  will 
not  disturb  your  appetites,  gentlemen." 

"You  do  this  day's  success  injustice,  Sir  Gervaise  in 
calling  it  only  a  brush,"  answered  the  Captain,  who,  to  say 
the  truth,  had  fallen  to  as  heartily  upon  the  delicacies  of 
Galleygo,  as  if  he  had  not  eaten  in  twenty-four  hours. 
"At  any  rate,  it  has  brushed  the  spars  out  of  two  of  King 
Louis'  ships,  and  one  of  them  into  our  hands  ;  aye,  and 
in  a  certain  sense  into  our  pockets." 

"Quite  true  Greenly — quite  true;  but  what  would  it 
have  been  if — 

The  sudden  manner  in  which  the  Commander-in-chief 
ceased  speaking,  induced  his  companions  to  think  that  he 
had  met  with  some  accident  in  eating  or  drinking;  both 
looked  earnestly  at  him  as  if  to  offer  assistance.  He  was 
pale  in  the  face,  but  he  smiled,  and  otherwise  appeared  at 
his  ease. 

"  It  is  over,  gentlemen,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  gently, 
"  we'll  think  no  more  of  it." 

"I    sincerely    hope    you've    not    been    hit,    sir?"   said 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  335 

Greenly.  "I've  known  men  hit,  who  did  not  discover 
that  they  were  hurt  until  some  sudden  weakness  had  be 
trayed  it." 

"  I  believe  the  French  have  let  me  off  this  time,  my 
good  friend  ;  yes,  I  think  Magrath  will  be  plugging  no 
shot-holes  in  my  hull  for  this  affair,  Sir  Wycherly,  those 
eggs  are  from  your  own  estate,  Galleygo  having  laid  the 
manor  under  contribution  for  all  sorts  of  good  things. 
Try  them,  Greenly,  as  coming  from  our  friend's  property." 

"  Sir  Wycherly  is  a  lucky  fellow  in  having  an  estate," 
said  the  Captain.  "  Few  officers  of  his  rank  can  boast  of 
such  an  advantage  ;  though,  now  and  then,  an  old  one  is 
better  off." 

''That  is  true  enough — hey,  Greenly  ?  The  army  fetches 
up  most  of  the  fortunes  ;  for  your  rich  fellows  like  good 
county  quarters  and  county  balls.  I  was  a  younger  brother 
when  they  sent  me  to  sea,  but  I  became  a  baronet,  and  a 
pretty  warm  one  too,  while  yet  a  reefer.  Poor  Joselin  died 
when  I  was  only  sixteen,  and  at  seventeen  they  made  me 
an  officer." 

"Aye,  and  we  like  you  all  the  better,  Sir  Gervaise,  for 
not  giving  us  up  when  the  money  came.  Now  Lord  Mor 
gan  ic  was  a  captain  when  he  succeeded,  and  we  think  much 
less  of  that." 

"Morganic  remains  in  service  to  teach  us  how  to  stay 
topmasts  and  paint  figure-heads,"  observed  Sir  Gervaise,  a 
little  dryly.  "  And  yet  the  fellow  handled  the  ship  well  to 
day  ;  making  much  better  weather  of  it  than  I  feared  he 
would  be  able  to  do." 

"I  hear  we  are  likely  to  get  another  duke  in  the  navy, 
sir  ;  it's  not  often  we  catch  one  of  that  rank." 

Sir  Gervaise  cared  much  less  for  things  of  this  sort  than 
Bluewater,  but  he  naturally  cast  a  glance  at  the  speaker  as 
this  was  said,  as  much  as  to  ask  whom  he  meant. 

"They  tell  me,  sir,  that  Lord  Montreser,  the  elder 
brother  of  the  boy  in  the  Caesar,  is  in  a  bad  way,  and  Lord 
Geoffrey  stands  next  to  the  succession.  I  think  there  is 
too  much  stuff  in  him  to  quit  us  now  he  is  almost  fit  to  get 
his  commission." 

"True,  Bluewater  has  that  boy  of  high  hopes  and  prom 
ises  with  him  too,"  answered  Sir  Gervaise,  in  a  musing 
manner,  unconscious  of  what  he  said.  "  God  send  he  may 
not  forget  that,  among  other  things ! " 

"  I  don't  think  rank  makes  any  difference  with  Admiral 


336  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

Bluewater,  or  Captain  Stowel.  The  nobles  are  worked  up 
in  their  ship  as  well  as  the  humblest  reefer  of  them  all. 
Here  is  Bunting,  sir,  to  tell  us  something." 

Sir  Gervaise  started  from  a  fit  of  abstraction,  and,  turn 
ing,  he  saw  his  signal-officer  ready  to  report. 

"The  Druid  has  ansxvered  properly,  Sir  Gervaise,  and 
has  already  hauled  up  so  close  that  I  think  she  will  luff 
through  the  line,  though  it  may  be  astern  of  the  Car- 
natic." 

"And  the  prize,  Bunting  ?  Have  you  signalled  the  prize, 
as  I  told  you  to  do  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  and  she  answered  so  properly  that  I  make  no 
question  the  prize-officer  took  a  book  with  him.  The  tele 
graphic  signal  was  answered  like  the  other." 

"  Well,  what  does  he  say  ?  Have  you  found  out  the  name 
of  the  Frenchman  ?  " 

"  That's  the  difficulty,  sir  ;  we  are  understood,  but  Mr. 
Daly  has  shown  something  aboard  the  prize  that  the  Quar 
termaster  swears  is  a  paddy." 

"  A  paddy  !  What  !  he  hasn't  had  himself  run  up  at  a 
yard-arm,  or  stun'sail-boom  end,  has  he — hey,  Wychecombe? 
Daly's  an  Irishman,  and  has  only  to  show  himself  to  show 
a  paddy." 

"But  this  is  a  sort  of  an  image  of  some  kind  or  other, 
Sir  Gervaise,  and  yet  it  isn't  Mr.  Daly.  I  rather  think  he 
hasn't  the  flags  necessary  for  our  words,  and  has  rigged 
out  a  sort  of  a  woman,  to  let  us  know  the  ship's  name  ;  for 
she  has  a  woman  figure-head,  you  know,  sir." 

"  The  devil  he  has  !  Well,  that  will  form  an  era  in  sig 
nals.  Galleygo,  look  out  at  the  cabin  windows  and  let  me 
know  if  you  can  see  the  prize  from  them — well,  sir,  what's 
the  news  ? " 

"I  sees  her,  Sir  Jarvy,"  answered  the  steward,  "and  I 
sees  her  where  no  French  ship  as  sails  in  company  with 
British  vessels  has  a  right  to  be.  If  she's  a  fathom,  your 
honor,  she's  fifty  to  windward  of  our  line?  Quite  out  of 
her  place,  as  a  body  might  say,  and  onreasonable." 

"  That's  owing  to  our  having  felled  the  forests  of  her 
masts,  Mr.  Galleygo;  every  spar  that  is  left  helping  to  put 
her  where  she  is.  That  prize  must  be  a  weatherly  ship, 
though,  hey,  Greenly  ?  She  and  her  consort  were  well  to 
windward  of  their  own  line,  or  we  could  never  have  got 
'em  as  we  did.  These  Frenchmen  do  turn  off  a  weatherly 
vessel  now  and  then,  that  we  must  all  admit." 


THE    Tll'O   ADMIRALS.  337 

"  Yes,  Sir  Jarvey,"  put  in  Galleygo,  who  never  let  the 
conversation  Hag  when  he  was  invited  to  take  a  part  in  it; 
"  yes,  Sir  Jarvey,  and  when  they've  turned  'em  off  the  stocks 
they  turns  'em  over  to  us,  commonly,  to  sail  'em.  Build 
ing  a  craft  is  one  piece  of  knowledge,  and  sailing  her  well 
is  another." 

"  Enough  of  your  philosophy,  sirrah  ;  look  and  ascertain 
if  there  is  anything  unusual  to  be  seen  hanging  in  the 
rigging  of  the  prize.  Unless  you  show  more  readiness,  I'll 
send  one  of  the  Bo\vlderos  to  help  you." 

These  Bowlderos  were  the  sen-ants  that  Sir  Gervaise 
brought  with  him  from  his  house,  having  been  born  on 
his  estate,  and  educated  as  domestics  in  his  own,  or  his 
father's  family  ;  and  though  long  accustomed  to  a  man-of- 
war,  as  their  ambition  never  rose  above  their  ordinary 
service,  the  steward  held  them  exceedingly  cheap.  A 
severer  punishment  could  not  be  offered  him  than  to 
threaten  to  direct  one  of  these  common  menials  to  do  any 
duty  that  in  the  least  pertained  to  the  profession.  The 
present  menace  had  the  desired  effect,  Galleygo  losing  no 
time  in  critically  examining  the  prize's  rigging. 

"  I  calls  nothing  extr'or'nary  in  a  Frenchman's  rigging, 
Sir  Jarvey,"  answered  the  steward,  as  soon  as  he  felt  sure 
of  his  fact  ;  "their  dock-men  have  idees  of  their  own,  as 
to  such  things.  Now  there  is  sum 'mat  hanging  at  the  lee 
fore-yard-arm  of  that  chap,  that  looks  as  if  it  might  be  a 
top-gal  laut-stun'sail  made  up  to  be  sent  aloft  and  set,  but 
which  stopped  when  it  got  as  high  as  it  is,  on  finding  out 
that  there's  no  hamper  overhead  to  spread  it  to." 

"  That's  it,  sir,"  put  in  Bunting.  "  Mr.  Daly  has  run  his 
woman  up  to  the  fore-yard-arm,  like  a  pirate." 

"Woman!"  repeated  Galleygo,  "do  you  call  that  'ere 
thingummee  a  woman,  Mr.  Buntin'  ?  I  calls  it  a  bundle  of 
flags,  made  up  to  set.  if  there  was  anything  to  set  'em  to." 

"  It's  nothing  but  an  Irishwoman,  Master  Galleygo,  as 
you'll  see  for  yourself,  if  you'll  level  this  glass  at  it." 

"  I'll  do  that  office  myself,"  cried  Sir  Gervaise.  "  Have  you 
any  curiosity,  gentlemen,  to  read  Mr.  Daly's  signal  ?  Gal 
leygo,  open  that  weather  window,  and  clear  away  the 
books  and  writing-desk,  that  we  may  have  a  look." 

The  orders  were  immediately  obeyed,  and  the  Vice-ad 
miral  was  soon  seated  examining  the  odd  figure  that  was 
certainly  hanging  at  the  lee  fore-yard-arm  of  the  prize  ;  a 
perfect  nondescript  as  regarded  all  nautical  experience. 


338  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  Hang  me,  if  I  can  make  anything  of  it,  Greenly,"  said 
Sir  Gervaise,  after  a  long  look.  "  Do  you  take  this  seat, 
and  try  your  hand  at  an  observation.  It  resembles  a  sort 
of  woman,  sure  enough." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  observed  Bunting,  with  the  earnestness  of  a 
man  who  felt  his  reputation  involved  in  the  issue.  "  I  was 
certain  that  Mr.  Daly  has  run  up  the  figure  to  let  us  know 
the  name  of  the  prize,  and  that  for  want  of  a  telegraph- 
book  to  signal  the  letters  ;  and  so  I  made  sure  of  what 
I  was  about,  before  I  took  the  liberty  to  come  below  and 
report." 

"And  pray  what  do  you  make  of  it,  Bunting?  The 
figure-head  might  tell  us  better,  but  that  seems  to  be  im 
perfect." 

"•The  figure-head  has  lost  all  its  bust,  and  one  arm,  by  a 
shot,"  said  Greenly,  turning  the  glass  to  the  object  named  ; 
"and  I  can  tell  Mr.  Daly  that  a  part  of  the  gammoning 
of  his  bowsprit  is  gone,  too!  The  ship  requires  looking 
to,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  she'll  have  no  foremast  to-morrow  morn 
ing,  if  this  wind  stand  !  Another  shot  has  raked  the  lower 
side  of  her  fore-top,  and  carried  away  half  the  frame.  Yes, 
and  there  has  been  a  fellow  at  work,  too " 

"Never  mind  the  shot — never  mind  the  shot,  Greenly," 
interrupted  the  Vice-admiral.  "A  poor  devil  like  him 
couldn't  have  six  of  us  at  him,  at  once,  and  expect  to  go 
'shot  free.'  Tell  us  something  of  the  woman." 

''Well,  Sir  Gervaise,  no  doubt  Daly  has  hoisted  her  as  a 
symbol.  Aye,  no  doubt  the  ship  is  the  Minerva,  after  all, 
for  there's  something  on  the  head  like  a  helmet." 

"It  never  can  be  the  Minerva,"  said  the  Vice-admiral, 
positively,  "  for  she,  I  feel  certain,  is  a  frigate.  Hand  me 
the  little  book  with  a  red  cover,  Bunting  ;  that  near  your 
hand  ;  it  has  a  list  of  the  enemy's  navy.  Here  it  is,  '  La 
Mi  nerve,  32,  le  capital  ne  de  fregate,  Mondon.  Built  in  1733, 
old  and  dull.'  That  settles  the  Minerva,  for  this  list  is  the 
last  sent  us  by  the  Admiralty." 

''Then  it  must  be  the  Pallas,"  rejoined  Greenly,  "  for 
she  wears  a  helmet,  too,  and  I  am  certain  there  is  not  only 
a  cap  to  resemble  a  helmet,  but  a  Guernsey  frock  on  the 
body  to  represent  armor.  Both  Minerva  and  Pallas,  if  I 
remember  right,  wore  armor." 

"This  is  coming  nearer  to  the  point — hey,  Greenly?" 
the  Vice-admiral  innocently  chimed  in  ;  "let  us  look  and 
see  if  the  Pallas  is  a  two-decker  or  not.  By  George,  there'? 


THE    TIYO   ADMIRALS.  339 

no  such  name  on  the  list.  That's  odd,  now,  that  the  French 
should  have  one  of  these  goddesses  and  not  the  other!" 

"They  never  has  anything  right,  Sir  Jarvey,"  Galleygo 
thrust  in,  by  way  of  commentary  on  the  Vice-admiral's 
and  the  Captain's  classical  lore;  "and  it's  surprising  to 
me  that  they  should  have  any  goddess  at  all,  seeing  that 
they  has  so  little  respect  for  religion,  in  general." 

Wycherly  fidgeted,  but  respect  for  his  superiors  kept 
him  silent.  As  for  Bunting,  'twas  all  the  same  to  him,  his 
father  having  been  a  purser  in  the  navy,  and  he  himself 
educated  altogether  on  board  ship,  and  this,  too,  a  century 
since. 

"  It  might  not  be  amiss,  Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  the 
Captain,  "to  work  this  rule  backward,  and  just  look  over 
the  list  until  we  find  a  two-decked  ship  that  ought  to  have 
a  woman  figure-head,  which  will  greatly  simplify  the  mat 
ter.  I've  known  difficult  problems  solved  in  that  mode." 

The  idea  struck  Sir  Gervaise  as  a  good  one,  and  he  set 
about  the  execution  of  the  project  in  good  earnest.  Just 
as  he  came  to  L'Hecate,  64,  an  exclamation  from  Greenly 
caught  his  attention,  and  he  inquired  its  cause. 

"  Look  for  yourself,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  unless  my  eyes  are 
good  for  nothing,  Daly  is  running  a  kedge  up  alongside  of 
this  woman." 

"  What,  a  kedge  ?  Aye,  that  is  intended  for  an  anchor, 
and  it  means  Hope.  Everybody  knows  that  Hope  carries 
an  anchor — hey,  Wychecombe  ?  Upon  my  word,  Daly 
shows  ingenuity.  Look  for  the  Hope,  in  that  list,  Bunting 
— you  will  find  the  English  names  printed  first,  in  the  end 
of  the  book." 

"'The  Hope,  or  LEsperance"'  read  the  signal-officer; 
"36,  lee  capita  ng  dee  frigate  de  Court  raii" 

"A  single-decked  ship  after  all!  This  affair  is  as  bad 

as  the  d d  nullits,  ashore  there.  I'll  not  be  beaten  in 

learning,  however,  by  any  Frenchman  who  ever  floated. 
Go  below,  Locker,  and  desire  Doctor  Magrath  to  step  up 
here,  if  he  is  not  occupied  with  the  wounded.  He  knows 
more  Latin  than  any  man  in  the  ship." 

"Yes,  Sir  Jarvey,  but  this  is  French  you  knows,  your 
honor,  and  isn't  Latin,  at  all.  I  expects  she'll  turn  out  to 
have  some  name  as  no  modest  person  wishes  to  use,  and 
we  shall  have  to  halter  it." 

"Aye,  he's  catted  his  anchor,  sure  enough  ;  if  the  figure 
be  not  Hope,  it  must  be  Faith,  or  Charity." 


340  THE    TIVO  ADMIRALS. 

"  No  fear  of  them,  Sir  Jarvey  ;  the  French  has  no  faith, 
nor  no  chanty,  no,  nor  no  bowels,  as  any  poor  fellow 
knows  as  has  ever  been  wrecked  on  their  coast,  as  once 
happened  to  me,  when  a  b'y.  I  looks  upon  'em  as  no 
better  than  so  many  heatheners.  and  perhaps  that's  the 
name  of  the  ship.  I've  seen  heatheners,  a  hundred  times, 
Sir  Jarvey,  in  that  sort  of  toggery." 

"  What,  man,  did  you  ever  see  a  heathen  with  an  anchor  ? 
one  that  will  weigh  three  hundred,  if  it  \vill  weigh  a 
pound  ? " 

"  Perhaps  not,  your  honor,  with  a  downright  hanchor, 
but  with  sum'mat  like  a  killog.  But  that's  no  hanchor, 
a'ter  all,  but  only  a  kedge,  catted  hanchor  fashion,  sir." 

"  Here  comes  Magrath,  to  help  us  out  of  the  difficulty; 
and  we'll  propound  the  matter  to  him." 

The  Vice-admiral  now  explained  the  whole  affair  to  the 
surgeon,  frankly  admitting  that  the  classics  of  the  cabin 
were  at  fault,  and  throwing  himself  on  the  gun-room  for 
assistance.  Magrath  was  not  a  little  amused,  as  he  listened, 
for  this  was  one  of  his  triumphs,  and  he  chuckled  not  a 
little  at  the  dilemma  of  his  superiors. 

"Well,  Sir  Jarvis,"  he  answered,*"  ye  might  do  warse 
than  call  a  council  o'  war  on  the  matter ;  but  if  it's  the 
name  ye'll  be  wanting,  I  can  help  ye  to  that,  without  the 
aid  of  symbols,  and  signs,  and  hieroglyphics  of  any  sort. 
As  we  crossed  the  vessel's  wake,  a  couple  of  hours  since, 
I  read  it  on  her  stern,  in  letters  of  gold.  It's  La  Victoire, 
or  the  Victory  ;  a  most  unfortunate  cognomen  for  an  un 
lucky  ship.  She's  a  French  victory,  however,  ye'll  remem 
ber,  gentlemen  ! " 

"  That  must  be  a  mistake,  Magrath ;  for  Daly  has 
shown  an  anchor,  yonder  ;  and  Victory  carries  no  anchor." 

"  It's  hard  to  say,  Veece-admiral,  one  man's  victory  be 
ing  another  man's  defeat.  As  for  Mr.  Daly's  image,  it's 
just  an  Irish  goddess  ;  and  allowances  must  be  made  for 
the  country." 

Sir  Gervaise  laughed,  invited  the  gentlemen  to  help 
demolish  the  breakfast,  and  sent  orders  on  deck  to  hoist 
the  answering  flag.  At  a  later  day,  Daly,  when  called  on 
for  an  explanation,  asserted  that  the  armor  and  helmet 
belonged  to  Victory,  as  a  matter  of  course  ;  though  he  ad 
mitted  that  he  had  at  first  forgotten  the  anchor.  "But, 
when  I  did  run  it  up,  they  read  it  aboard  the  ould  Planter, 
as  if  it  had  been  just  so  much  primer." 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  341 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

There's  beauty  in  the  deep  : 

The  wave  is  bluer  than  the  sky ; 

And,  though  the  light  shines  bright  on  high, 

More  softly  do  the  sea  gems  glow 

That  sparkle  in  the  depths,  below ; 

The  rainbow's  tints  are  only  made 

When  on  the  water  they  are  laid. 

And  sun  and  moon  most  sweetly  shine 

Upon  the  ocean's  level  brine. 

There's  beauty  in  the  deep. — BRAINARD. 

As  Daly  was  the  recognized  jester  of  the  fleet,  his  extra 
ordinary  attempt  to  announce  his  vessel's  name  was  re 
ceived  as  a  characteristic  joke,  and  it  served  to  laugh  at 
until  something  better  offered.  Under  the  actual  circum 
stances  of  the  two  squadrons,  however,  it  was  soon  tem 
porarily  forgotten  in  grave  things,  for  few  believed  the 
collision  that  had  already  taken  place  was  to  satisfy  a  man 
of  the  known  temperament  of  the  Commander-in-chief. 
As  the  junction  of  the  rear  division  was  the  only  thing 
wanting  to  bring  on  a  general  engagement,  as  soon  as  the 
weather  should  moderate  a  little,  every  ship  had  careful 
lookouts  aloft,  sweeping  the  horizon  constantly  with 
glasses,  more  particularly  toward  the  east  and  northeast. 
The  gale  broke  about  noon,  though  the  wind  still  con 
tinued  fresh  from  the  same  quarter  as  before.  The  sea 
began  to  go  down,  however,  and  at  eight  bells  material 
changes  had  occurred  in  the  situations  of  both  fleets. 
Some  of  these  it  may  be  necessary  to  mention. 

The  ship  of  the  French  Admiral,  Le  Foudroyant,  and 
Le  Scipion,  had  been  received,  as  it  might  be,  in  the  arms 
of  their  own  fleet  in  the  manner  already  mentioned  ;  and 
from  this  moment,  the  movement  of  the  whole  force  was, 
in  a  measure,  regulated  by  that  of  these  two  crippled  ves 
sels.  The  former  ship,  by  means  of  her  lower  sails,  might 
have  continued  to  keep  her  station  in  the  line  so  long  as 
the  gale  lasted,  but  the  latter  unavoidably  fell  off,  compel 
ling  her  consorts  to  keep  near,  or  abandon  her  to  her  fate. 
M.  de  Vervillin  preferred  the  latter  course.  The  conse 
quences  were,  that  by  the  time  the  sun  was  in  the  zenith, 


342  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

his  line,  a  good  deal  extended,  still,  and  far  from  regular, 
was  quite  three  leagues  to  leeward  of  that  of  the  Eng 
lish.  Nor  was  this  all  :  at  that  important  turn  in  the  day, 
Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  was  enabled  to  make  sail  on  all  his 
ships,  setting  the  fore  and  mizzen  topsails  close-reefed  ; 
while  La  Victoire,  a  fast  vessel,  was  enabled  to  keep  in 
company  by  carrying  whole  courses.  The  French  could 
not  imitate  this,  inasmuch  as  one  of  their  crippled  vessels 
had  nothing  standing  but  a  foremast.  Sir  Gervaise  had 
ascertained,  before  the  distance  became  too  great  for 
such  observations,  that  the  enemy  was  getting  ready  to 
send  up  new  topmasts,  and  the  other  necessary  spars  on 
board  the  admiral,  as  well  as  jury  lower-masts  in  Le  Scipion; 
though  the  sea  would  not  yet  permit  any  very  positive 
demonstrations  to  be  made  toward  such  an  improvement. 
He  laid  his  own  plans  for  the  approaching  night  accord 
ingly  ;  determining  not  to  worry  his  people,  or  notify  the 
enemy  of  his  intentions  by  attempting  any  similar  im 
provement  in  the  immediate  condition  of  his  prize. 

About  noon,  each  ship's  number  was  made  in  succession, 
and  the  question  was  put  if  she  had  sustained  any  material 
injury  in  the  late  conflict.  The  answers  were  satisfactory 
in  general,  though  one  or  two  of  the  vessels  made  such 
replies  as  induced  the  Commander-in-chief  to  resort  to  a 
still  more  direct  mode  of  ascertaining  the  real  condition  of 
his  fleet.  In  order  to  effect  this  important  object,  Sir 
Gervaise  waited  two  hours  longer,  for  the  double  purpose 
of  letting  all  the  messes  get  through  with  their  dinners, 
and  to  permit  the  wind  to  abate  and  the  sea  to  fall,  as  both 
were  now  fast  doing.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  how 
ever,  he  appeared  on  the  poop,  summoning  Bunting  to 
his  customary  duty. 

At  2  p.  M.  it  blew  a  whole  topsail  breeze,  as  it  is  called  ; 
but  the  sea  being  still  high,  and  the  ships  close-hauled, 
the  Vice-admiral  did  not  see  fit  to  order  any  more  sail. 

Perhaps  he  was  also  influenced  by  a  desire  not  to  in 
crease  his  distance  from  the  enemy,  it  being  a  part  of  his 
plan  to  keep  M.  de  Vervillin  in  plain  sight  so  long  as  the 
day  continued,  in  order  that  he  might  have  a  tolerable  idea 
of  the  position  of  his  fleet,  during  the  hours  of  darkness. 
His  present  intention  was  to  cause  his  vessels  to  pass  be 
fore  him  in  review,  as  a  general  orders  his  battalions  to 
march  past  a  station  occupied  by  himself  and  staff,  with  a 
view  to  judge  by  his  own  eye  of  their  steadiness  and  ap» 


THE    Tll'O   ADMIRALS. 


343 


pearance.  Vice-admiral  Cakes  was  the  only  officer  in  the 
British  navy  who  ever  resorted  to  this  practice  ;  but  he  did 
many  things  of  which  other  men  never  dreamed,  and, 
among  the  rest,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  attack  double  his 
force,  when  an  occasion  offered,  as  has  just  been  seen. 
The  officers  of  the  fleet  called  these  characteristic  reviews 
"  Sir  Jarvey's  field-days,"  finding  a  malicious  pleasure  in 
comparing  any  thing  out  of  the  common  nautical  track,  to 
some  usage  of  the  soldiers. 

Bunting  got  his  orders,  notwithstanding  the  jokes  of  the 
fleet ;  and  the  necessary  signals  were  made  and  the  an 
swers  given.  Captain  Greenly  then  received  his  verbal  in 
structions,  when  the  Commander-in-chief  went  below,  to 
prepare  himself  for  the  approaching  scene.  When  Sir 
Gervaise  reappeared  on  the  poop,  he  was  in  full  uniform, 
wearing  the  star  of  the  Bath,  as  was  usual  with  him  on 
all  solemn  official  occasions.  Atwood  and  Bunting  were 
at  his  side,  while  the  Bowlderos,  in  their  rich  shore-liver 
ies,  formed  a  group  at  hand.  Captain  Greenly  and  his 
first  lieutenant  joined  the  party  as  soon  as  their  duty  with 
the  ship  was  over.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  poop  the 
whole  of  the  marines  off  guard  were  drawn  up  in  triple 
lines,  with  their  officers  at  their  heads.  The  ship  herself 
had  hauled  up  her  mainsail,  hauled  down  all  the  staysails, 
and  lay  with  her  main-topsail  braced  sharp  aback,  with 
orders  to  the  quartermaster  to  keep  her  a  little  off  the 
wind  ;  the  object  being  to  leave  a  little  way  through  the 
water,  in  order  to  prolong  the  expected  interviews.  With 
these  preparations  the  Commander-in-chief  awaited  the 
successive  approach  of  his  ships,  the  sun,  for  the  first 
time  in  twenty-four  hours,  making  his  appearance  in  a 
flood  of  brilliant  summer-light,  as  if  purposely  to  grace 
the  ceremony. 

The  first  ship  that  drew  near  the  Plantagenet  was  the 
Carnatic,  as  a  matter  of  course  she  being  the  next  in  line. 
This  vessel,  remarkable,  as  the  Commander-in-chief  had 
observed,  for  never  being  out  of  the  way,  was  not  long  in 
closing,  though  as  she  luffed  up  on  the  Admirals'  weather 
quarter,  to  pass  to  windward,  she  let  go  all  her  topsail 
bow.-lines,  so  as  to  deaden  her  way  making  a  sort  of  half- 
board.  This  simple  evolution,  as  she  righted  her  helm, 
brought  her  about  fifty  yards  to  windward  of  the  Planta 
genet,  past  which  ship  she  surged  slowly  but  steadily,  the 
weather  now  permitting  a  conversation  to  be  held  at  that 


344  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

distance,  and  by  means  of  trumpets,  with  little  or  no  effort 
of  the  voice. 

Most  of  the  officers  of  the  Carnatic  were  on  her  poop 
as  she  came  sweeping  up  heavily,  casting  her  shadow  on 
the  Plantagenet's  decks.  Captain  Parke  himself  was 
standing  near  the  ridge-ropes,  his  head  uncovered,  and  the 
gray  hairs  floating  in  the  breeze.  The  countenance  of 
this  simple-minded  veteran  was  a  little  anxious,  for,  if  he 
had  feared  the  enemy  a  tenth  part  as  much  as  he  stood  in 
awe  of  his  commanding  officer,  he  would  have  been  totally 
unfit  for  his  station.  Now  he  glanced  upward  at  his  sails, 
to  see  that  all  was  right  ;  then,  as  he  drew  nearer,  fathom 
by  fathom  as  it  might  be,  he  anxiously  endeavored  to  read 
the  expression  of  the  Vice-admiral's  face. 

"How  do  you  do,  Captain  Parker?"  commenced  Sir 
Gervaise,  with  true  trumpet  formality,  making  the  cus 
tomary  salutation. 

"  How  is  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  to-day  ?  I  hope  untouched 
in  the  Jate  affair  with  the  enemy  ?" 

"Quite  well,  I  thank  you,  sir.  Has  the  Carnatic  re 
ceived  any  serious  injury  in  the  battle  ?" 

"None  to  mention,  Sir  Gervaise.  A  rough  scrape  of 
the  foremast  ;  but  not  enough  to  alarm  us,  now  that  the 
weather  has  moderated  ;  a  little  rigging  cut,  and  a  couple 
of  raps  in  the  hull." 

"Have  your  people  suffered,  sir?" 

"Two  men  killed  and  seven  wounded,  Sir  Gervaise. 
Good  lads,  most  of  'em  ;  but  enough  like  'em  remain." 

"  I  understand,  then,  Captain  Parker,  that  you  report 
the  Carnatic  fit  for  any  service  ?" 

"As  much  so  as  my  poor  abilities  enable  me  to  make  her, 
Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,"  answered  the  other,  a  little  alarmed 
at  the  formality  and  precision  of  the  question.  "  Meet  her 
with  the  helm — meet  her  with  the  helm." 

All  this  passed  while  the  Carnatic  was  making  her  half- 
board,  and,  the  helm  being  righted,  she  now  slowly  and 
majestically  fell  off  with  her  broadside  to  the  Admiral, 
gathering  way  as  her  canvas  began  to  draw  again.  At  this 
instant,  when  the  yard-arms  of  the  two  ships  were  about  a 
hundred  feet  asunder,  and  just  as  the  Carnatic  drew  up 
fairly  abeam,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  raised  his  hat,  stepped 
quickly  to  the  side  of  the  poop,  wraved  his  hand  for  silence, 
and  spoke  with  a  distinctness  that  rendered  his  words  au 
dible  to  all  in  both  vessels. 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  345 

"Captain  Parker,"  he  said,  "  I  wish,  publicly,  to  thank 
you  for  your  noble  conduct  this  day.  I  have  always  said  a 
surer  support  could  never  follow  a  commander-in-chief 
into  battle  ;  you  have  more  than  proved  my  opinion  to  be 
true.  I  wish,  publicly,  to  thank  you,  sir." 

"  Sir  Gervaise — I  cannot  express — God  bless  you,  Sir 
Gervaise  ! " 

"  I  have  but  one  fault  to  find  with  you,  sir,  and  that  is 
easily  pardoned." 

"  I'm  sure  I  hope  so,  sir." 

"  You  handled  your  ship  so  rapidly  and  so  surely, 
that  we  had  hardly  time  to  get  out  of  the  way  of  your 
guns ! " 

Old  Parker  could  not  now  have  answered  had  his  life  de 
pended  on  it  ;  but  he  bowed,  and  dashed  a  hand  across  his 
eyes.  There  was  but  a  moment  to  say  any  more. 

"  If  his  Majesty's  sword  be  not  laid  on  your  shoulder  for 
this  day's  wrork,  sir,  it  shall  be  no  fault  of  mine,"  added  Sir 
Gervaise,  waving  his  hat  in  adieu. 

While  this  dialogue  lasted,  so  profound  wTas  the  stillness 
in  the  two  ships,  that  the  wash  of  the  water  under  the 
bows  of  the  Carnatic,  was  the  only  sound  to  interfere  with 
Sir  Gervaise's  clarion  voice  ;  but  the  instant  he  ceased  to 
speak,  the  crews  of  both  vessels  rose  as  one  man,  and 
cheered.  The  officers  joined  heartily,  and  to  complete  the 
compliment,  the  Commander-in-chief  ordered  his  own  ma 
rines  to  present  arms  to  the  passing  vessel.  Then  it  was 
that,  every  sail  drawing,  again  the  Carnatic  took  a  sudden 
start,  and  shot  nearly  her  length  ahead,  on  the  summit  of  a 
sea.  In  half  a  minute  more,  she  was  ahead  of  the  Planta- 
genet's  flying-jib-boom-end,  steering  a  little  free,  so  as  not 
to  throw  the  Admiral  to  leeward. 

The  Carnatic  was  scarcely  out  of  the  way,  before  the 
Achilles  was  ready  to  take  her  place.  This  ship,  having 
more  room,  had  easily  luffed  to  windward  of  the  Planta- 
genet,  simply  letting  go  her  bowlines,  as  her  bows  doubled 
on  the  Admiral's  stern,  in  order  to  check  her  way. 

"  How  do  you  do  to-day,  Sir  Gervaise  ?"  called  out  Lord 
Morganic,  without  waiting  for  the  Commander-in-chief's 
hail  ;  "  allow  me  to  congratulate  you,  sir,  on  the  exploits 
of  this  glorious  day  !  " 

"  I  thank  you,  my  lord,  and  wish  to  say  I  am  satisfied 
with  the  behavior  of  your  ship.  You've  all  done  well,  and 
I  desire  to  thank  you  all.  Is  the  Achilles  injured  ? " 


346  THE  TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  Nothing  to  speak  of,  sir.  A  little  rigging  gone,  and 
here  and  there  a  stick." 

"  Have  you  lost  any  men,  my  lord  !  I  desire  particularly 
to  know  the  condition  of  each  ship." 

"  Some  eight  or  ten  poor  fellows,  I  believe,  Sir  Gerr 
vaise  ;  but  we  are  ready  to  engage  this  instant." 

"  It  is  well,  my  lord  ;  steady  your  bowlines,  and  make 
room  for  the  Thunderer." 

Morganic  gave  the  order,  but  as  his  ship  drew  ahead  he 
called  out  in  a  pertinacious  way,  "  I  hope,  Sir  Gervaise, 
you  don't  mean  to  give  that  other  lame  duck  up.  I've  put 
my  first  lieutenant  on  board  one  of  'em,  and  confess  to  a 
desire  to  put  a  second  on  board  another." 

"Aye,  aye,  Morganic,  we /knock  clown  the  birds,  and  you 
bag  'em.  I'll  give  you  more  sport  in  the  same  way,  before 
I've  done  wid  ye." 

This  little  concession,  even  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  a  man 
not  accustomed  to  trifle  in  matters  of  duty,  saw  fit  to  make 
to  the  other's  rank  ;  and  the  Achilles  withdrew  from  before 
the  flag-ship,  as  the  curtain  is  drawn  from  before  the 
scene. 

"  I  do  believe,  Greenleaf,"  observed  Lord  Morganic  to 
his  surgeon,  one  of  his  indulged  favorites  ;  "  that  Sir  Jarvy 
is  a  little  jealous  of  us,  because  Daly  got  into  the  prize 
before  he  could  send  one  of  his  own  boats  aboard  of  her. 
'Twill  tell  well  in  the  gazette,  will  it  not  ?  'The  French 
ship  was  taken  possession  of,  and  brought  off,  by  the 
Achilles,  Captain  the  Earl  of  Morganic  ! '  I  hope  the  old 
fellow  will  have  the  decency  to  give  us  our  due.  I  rather 
think  it  was  our  last  broadside  that  brought  the  colors 
down  ? " 

A  suitable  answer  was  returned,  but  as  the  ship  is  draw 
ing  ahead,  we  can  not  follow  her  to  relate  it.  The  vessel 
that  approached  the  third,  was  the  Thunderer,  Captain 
Foley.  This  was  one  of  the  ships  that  had  received  the 
fire  of  the  three*  leading  French  vessels,  after  they  had 
brought  the  wind  abeam,  and  being  the  leading  vessel  of 
the  English  rear,  she  had  suffered  more  than  any  other  of 
the  British  squadron.  The  fact  was  apparent,  as  she  ap 
proached,  by  the  manner  in  which  her  rigging  was  knotted, 
and  the  attention  that  had  been  paid  to  her  spars.  Even 
as  she  closed,  the  men  were  on  the  yard  bending  a  new 
main-course,  the  old  one  having  been  hit  on  the  bolt-rope, 
and  torn  nearly  from  the  spar.  There  were  also  severaJ 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  347 

plugs  on  her  lee-side  to  mark  the  spots  where  the  French 
guns  had  told. 

The  usual  greetings  passed  between  the  Vice-admiral  and 
the  captain,  and  the  former  put  his  questions. 

"We  have  not  been  quite  exchanging  salutes,  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,"  answered  Captain  Foley  ;  "  but  the  ship  is  ready 
for  service  again.  Should  the  wind  moderate  a  little,  I 
think  every  thing  would  stand  to  carry  sail  hard." 

"I'm  glad  to  hear  it,  sir — rejoiced  to  hear  it,  sir.  I 
feared  more  for  you,  than  for  any  other  vessel.  I  hope 
you've  not  suffered  materially  in  your  crew?" 

"Nine  killed,  Sir  Gervaise ;  and  the  surgeon  tells  me 
sixteen  wounded." 

"  That  proves  you've  been  in  port,  Foley!  Well,  I  dare 
say,  could  the  truth  be  known,  it  would  be  found  that  M. 
de  Vervillin's  vessels  bear  your  marks,  in  revenge.  Adieu 
— adieu — God  bless  you." 

The  Thunderer  glided  ahead,  making  room  for  the 
Blenheim,  Captain  Sterling.  This  was  one  of  your  service 
able  ships,  without  any  show  or  style  about  her  ;  but  a 
vessel  that  was  always  ready  to  give  and  take.  Her  com 
mander  was  a  regular  sea-dog,  a  little  addicted  to  hard  and 
outlandish  oaths,  a  great  consumer  of  tobacco  and  brandy  ; 
but  who  had  the  discrimination  never  to  swear  in  the 
presence  of  the  Commander-in  chief,  although  he  had  been 
known  to  do  so  in  a  church  ;  or  to  drink  more  than  he 
could  well  carry,  when  he  was  in  presence  of  an  enemy  or 
in  a  gale  of  wind.  He  was  too  firm  a  man,  and  too  good 
a  seaman,  to  use  the  bottle  as  a  refuge  ;  it  was  the  com 
panion  of  his  ease  and  pleasure,  and  to  confess  the  truth, 
he  then  treated  it  with  an  affectionate  benevolence,  that 
rendered  it  exceedingly  difficult  for  others  not  to  entertain 
some  of  his  own  partiality  for  it.  In  a  word,  Captain 
Sterling  was  a  sailor  of  the  "old  school ;"  for  there  was  an 
"old  school"  in  manners,  habits,  opinions,  philosophy, 
morals,  and  reason,  a  century  since,  precisely  as  there  is 
to-day,  and  probably  will  be,  a  century  hence. 

The  Blenheim  made  a  good  report,  not  having  sustained 
any  serious  injury  whatever;  nor  had  she  a  man  hurt. 
The  captain  reported  his  ship  as  fit  for  service  as  she  was 
the  hour  she  lifted  her  anchor. 

"  So  much  the  better,  Sterling — so  much  the  better. 
You  shall  take  the  edge  off  the  next  affair,  by  way  of  giv- 


348  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

ing  you  another  chance.  I  rely  on  the  Blenheim,  and  on 
her  captain." 

"I  thank  you,  sir,"  returned  Sterling,  as  his  ship  moved 
on  ;  "by  the  way,  Sir  Gervaise,  would  it  not  be  fair-play 
to  rummage  the  prize's  lockers  before  she  gets  into  the 
hands  of  the  custom-house.?  Out  here  on  the  high  seas, 
there  can  be  no  smuggling  in  that  ;  there  must  be  good 
claret  aboard  her." 

"There  would  be  *  plunder  of  a  prize,'  Sterling,"  said 
the  Vice-admiral,  laughing,  for  he  knew  the  question  was 
put  more  as  a  joke  than  a  serious  proposition  ;  "  and  that 
is  death  without  benefit  of  clergy.  Move  on  ;  here  is 
Goodfellow  close  upon  your  heels." 

The  last  ship  in  the  English  line  was  the  Warspite,  Cap 
tain  Goodfellow,  an  officer  remarkable  in  the  service  at 
that  day,  for  a  "  religious  turn  "  as  it  was  called.  As  is 
usually  the  case  with  men  of  this  stamp,  Captain  Good- 
fellow  was  quiet,  thoughtful,  and  attentive  to  his  duty. 
There  was  less  of  the  real  tar  in  him,  perhaps,  than  in 
some  of  his  companions  ;  but  his  ship  was  in  good  order, 
always  did  her  duty,  and  was  remarkably  attentive  to  sig 
nals  ;  a  circumstance  that  rendered  her  commander  a 
marked  favorite  with  the  Vice-admiral.  After  the  usual 
questions  were  put  and  answered,  Sir  Gervaise  informed 
Goodfellow  that  he  intended  to  change  the  order  of  sailing 
so  as  to  bring  him  near  the  van. 

"We  will  give  old  Parker  a  breathing  spell,  Goodfel 
low,"  added  the  Commander-in-chief,  "  and  you  will  be  my 
second  astern.  I  must  go  ahead  of  you  all,  or  you'll  be 
running  down  on  the  Frenchman  without  orders  ;  pretend 
ing  you  can't  see  the  signals,  in  the  smoke." 

The  Warspite  drove  ahead,  and  the  Plantagenet  was 
now  left  to  receive  the  prize  and  the  Druid  ;  the  Chloe, 
Driver,  and  Active,  not  being  included  in  the  signal.  Daly 
had  been  gradually  eating  the  other  ships  out  of  the  wind, 
as  has  been  mentioned  already,  and  when  the  order  was 
given  to  pass  within  hail,  he  grumbled  not  a  little  at  the 
necessity  of  losing  so  much  of  his  vantage-ground.  Never 
theless,  it  would  not  do  to  joke  with  the  Commander-in- 
chief  in  a  matter  of  this  sort,  and  he  was  fain  to  haul  up  his 
courses,  and  wait  for  the  moment  when  he  might  close. 
By  the  time  the  Warspite  was  out  of  the  way,  his  ship  had 
drifted  down  so  near  the  Admiral,  tliat  he  had  nothing  to 
do  but  to  haul  aboard  his  tacks  again,  and  pass  as  near  as 


THE   TWO   ADMIRALS.  349 

was  at  all  desirable.  When  quite  near,  he  hauled  up  his 
mainsail,  by  order  of  the  Vice-admiral. 

"  Are  you  much  in  want  of  any  thing,  Mr.  Daly  ?"  de 
manded  Sir  Gervaise,  as  soon  as  the  Lieutenant  appeared 
forward  to  meet  his  hail.  "  The  sea  is  going  down  so  fast, 
that  we  might  now  send  you  some  boats." 

"  Many  thanks,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  I  want  to  get  rid  of  a 
hundred  or  two  Frenchmen,  and  to  have  a  hundred  English 
men  in  their  places.  We  are  but  twenty-one  of  the  king's 
subjects  here,  all  told." 

"  Captain  Blewet  is  ordered  to  keep  company  with  you, 
sir  ;  and  as  soon  as  it  is  dark,  I  intend  to  send  you  into 
Plymouth  under  the  frigate's  convoy.  Is  she  a  nice  ship, 
hey,  Daly  ?  " 

"  Why,  Sir  Gervaise,  she's  like  a  piece  of  broken  crock- 
erv,  just  now,  and  one  can't  tell  all  her  merits.  She's  not 
a  bad  goer,  and  weatherly,  I  think,  all  will  call  her.  But 
she's  thundering  French  inside." 

"  We'll  make  her  English  in  due  time,  sir.  How  are  the 
leaks  ?  do  the  pumps  work  freely  ? " 

"  Deuce  the  Take  has  she,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  the  pumps 
suck  like  a  nine  months'  babby.  And  if  they  didn't  we're 
scarce  the  boys  to  find  out  the  contrary,  being  but  nine 
teen  working  hands." 

"  Very  well,  Daly  ;  you  can  haul  aboard  your  main-tack, 
now  ;  remember,  you're  to  go  into  Plymouth,  as  soon  as 
it  is  dark.  If  you  see  any  thing  of  Admiral  Blue  water, 
tell  him  I  rely  on  his  support,  and  only  wait  for  his  appear 
ance  to  finish  Monsieur  de  Vervillin's  job." 

"  I'll  do  all  that,  with  hearty  good  will,  sir.  Pray,  Sir 
Gervaise,"  added  Daly,  grinning,  on  the  poop  of  the  prize, 
whither  he  had  got  by  this  time,  having  walked  aft  as  his 
ship  went  ahead,  "  how  do  you  like  French  signals  ?  For 
want  of  a  better,  we  were  driven  to  the  classics  !  " 

"Aye,  you'd  be  bothered  to  explain  all  your  own  flags, 
I  fancy.  The  name  of  the  ship  is  the  Victory,  I  am  told  ; 
why  did  you  put  her  in  armor,  and  whip  a  kedge  up 
against  the  poor  woman  ?  " 

"  It's  according  to  the  books,  Sir  Gervaise.  Every  word 
of  it  out  of  Cicero,  and  Cordairy,  arid  Cornelius  Nepos, 
and  those  sort  of  fellows.  O  !  I  went  to  school,  sir,  be 
fore  I  went  to  sea,  as  you  say  yourself,  sometimes,  Sir 
Gervaise ;  and  literature  is  the  same  in  Ireland,  as  it  is  all 
over  the  world.  Victory  needs  armor,  sir,  in  order  to  be 


350  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

victorious,  and  the  anchor  is  to  show  that  she  doesn't  be 
long  to  '  the  cut  and  run '  family.  I  am  as  sure  that  all  is 
right,  as  I  ever  was  of  my  moods  and  tenses." 

"  Very  well,  Daly,"  answered  Sir  Gervaise,  laughing, 
"  my  lords  shall  know  your  merits  in  that  way,  and  it  may 
get  you  named  a  professor — keep  your  luff,  or  you'll  be 
down  on  our  sprit-sail-yard  ;  remember  and  follow  the 
Druid." 

Here  the  gentlemen  waved  their  hands  in  adieu  as  usual, 
and  La  Victoire,  clipped  as  she  was  of  her  wings,  drew 
slowly  past.  The  Druid  succeeded,  and  Sir  Gervaise  simply 
gave  Blewet  his  orders  to  see  the  prize  into  port,  and  to 
look  after  his  own  foremast.  This  ended  the  field-day  ; 
the  frigate  luffing  up  to  windward  of  the  line  again,  leav 
ing  the  Plantagenet  in  its  rear.  A  few  minutes  later,  the 
latter  ship  filled  and  stood  after  her  consorts. 

The  Vice-admiral  having  now  ascertained,  in  the  most 
direct  manner,  the  actual  condition  of  his  fleet,  had  data 
on  which  to  form  his  plans  for  the  future.  But  for  the 
letter  from  Bluewater,  he  would  have  been  perfectly  happy; 
the  success  of  the  day  having  infused  a  spirit  into  the  dif 
ferent  vessels,  that,  of  itself,  was  a  pledge  of  more  impor 
tant  results.  Still  he  determined  to  act  as  if  that  letter 
had  never  been  written,  finding  it  impossible  to  believe 
that  one  who  had  so  long  been  true,  could  really  fail  him 
in  the  hour  of  need.  "  I  know  his  heart  better  than  he 
knows  it  himself,"  he  caught  himself  mentally  exclaiming, 
"and  before  either  of  us  is  a  day  older,  this  will  I  prove 
to  him,  to  his  confusion  and  my  triumph."  He  had  several 
short  and  broken  conversations  with  Wycherly  in  the 
course  of  the  afternoon,  with  a  view  to  ascertain,  if  pos 
sible,  the  real  frame  of  mind  in  which  his  friend  had  written, 
but  without  success,  the  young  man  frankly  admitting 
that,  owing  to  a  confusion  of  thought  that  he  modestly 
attributed  to  himself,  but  which  Sir  Gervaise  well  knew 
ought  in  justice  to  be  imputed  to  Bluewrater,  he  had  not 
been  able  to  bring  away  with  him  any  very  clear  notions 
of  the  Rear-admiral's  intentions. 

In  the  meamvhile,  the  elements  were  beginning  to  exhib 
it  another  of  their  changeful  humors.  A  gale  in  summer 
is  seldom  of  long  duration  and  twenty-four  hours  would 
seem  to  be  the  period  which  nature  had  assigned  to  this. 
The  weather  had  moderated  materially  by  the  time  the 
review  had  taken  place,  and  five  hours  later,  not  only  had 


THE    TIVO  ADMIRALS.  351 

the  sea  subsided  to  a  very  reasonable  swell,  but  the  wind 
had  hauled  several  points  ;  coming  out  a  fresh  topgallant 
breeze  at  northwest.  The  French  fleet  wore  soon  after, 
standing  about  northeast-by-north,  on  an  easy  bowline. 
They  had  been  active  in  repairing  damages,  and  the  Ad 
miral  was  all  a-tanto  again,  with  every  thing  set  that  the 
other  ships  carried.  The  plight  of  Le  Scipion  was  not  so 
easily  remedied,  though  even  she  had  two  jury-masts 
rigged,  assistance  having  been  sent  from  the  other  vessels 
as  soon  as  boats  could  safely  pass.  As  the  sun  hung  in 
the  western  sky,  wanting  about  an  hour  of  disappearing 
from  one  of  the  long  summer  days  of  that  high  latitude, 
this  ship  set  a  mizzen-topsail  in  the  place  of  a  main,  and 
a  fore-topgallant-sail  in  lieu  of  a  mizzen-topsail.  Thus 
equipped,  she  was  enabled  to  keep  company  with  her 
consorts,  all  of  which  were  under  easy  canvas,  waiting  for 
the  night  to  cover  their  movements. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  had  made  the  signal  for  his  fleet  to 
tack  in  succession,  from  the  rear  to  the  van,  about  an 
hour  before  the  Le  Scipion  obtained  this  additional  sail. 
The  order  was  executed  with  great  readiness,  and,  as  the 
ships  had  been  looking  up  as  high  as  west-southwest  be 
fore,  when  they  got  round,  and  headed  north-northeast, 
their  line  of  sailing  was  still  quite  a  league  to  the  windward 
of  that  of  the  enemy.  As  each  vessel  filled  on  the  larboard 
tack,  she  shortened  sail  to  allow  the  ships  astern  to  keep 
away,  and  close  to  her  station.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to 
sav,  that  this  change  again  brought  the  Plantagenet  to  the 
head  of  the  line,  with  the  Warspite,  however,  instead  of 
the  Carnatic,  fcr  her  second  astern  ;  the  latter  vessel  being 
quite  in  the  rear. 

It  was  a  glorious  afternoon,  and  there  was  every  prom 
ise  of  as  fine  a  night.  Still  as  there  were  but  about  six 
hours  of  positive  darkness  at  that  season  of  the  year,  and 
the  moon  would  rise  at  midnight,  the  Vice-admiral  knew 
he  had  no  time  to  lose,  if  he  would  effect  anything  under 
the  cover  of  obscurity. 

Reefs  were  no  longer  used,  though  all  the  ships  were 
under  short  canvas,  in  order  to  accommodate  their  move 
ments  to  those  of  the  prize.  The  latter,  however,  was  now 
in  tow  of  the  Druid,  and  as  this  frigate  carried  her  topgal 
lant-sails,  aided  by  her  own  courses,  La  Victoire  \vas  en 
abled  not  only  to  keep  up  with  the  fleet,  then  under  whole 
topsails,  but  to  maintain  her  weatherly  position.  Such 


352  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

was  the  state  of  things  just  as  the  sun  dipped,  the  enemy 
being  on  the  lee  bow,  distant  one  and  a  half  league,  when 
the  Plantagenet  showed  a  signal  for  the  whole  fleet  to 
heave  to,  with  the  main-topsails  to  the  masts.  This  com 
mand  was  scarcely  executed,  when  the  officers  on  deck 
were  surprised  to  hear  a  boatswain's  mate  piping  away 
the  crew  of  the  Vice-admiral's  barge,  or  that  of  the  boat 
which  was  appropriated  to  the  particular  service  of  the 
Commander-in-chief. 

"Did  I  hear  aright,  Sir  Gervaise  ?"  inquired  Greenly, 
with  curiosity  and  interest;  "  is  it  your  wish  to  have  your 
barge  manned,  sir?" 

"You  heard  perfectly  right,  Greenly;  and  if  disposed 
for  a  row  this  evening,  I  shall  ask  the  favor  of  your  com 
pany.  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  as  you  are  an  idler 
here,  I  have  a  flag-officer's  right  to  press  you  into  my  ser 
vice.  By  the  way,  Greenly,  I  have  made  out  and  signed 
an  order  to  this  gentleman  to  report  himself  to  you,  as  at 
tached  to  my  family,  as  the  soldiers  call  it ;  as  soon  as 
Atwood  has  copied  it,  it  will  be  handed  to  him,  whejj  I 
beg  you  will  consider  him  as  my  first  aid." 

To  this  no  one  could  object,  and  Wycherly  made  a  bow 
of  acknowledgment.  At  this  instant  the  barge  was  seen 
swinging  off  over  the  ship's  waist,  and,  at  the  next,  the 
yard  tackles  were  heard  overhauling  themselves.  The 
splash  of  the  boat  in  the  water  followed.  The  crew  was 
in  her,  with  oars  on  end,  and  poised  boat-hooks  in  another 
minute.  The  guard  presented,  the  boatswain  piped  over, 
the  drum  rolled,  and  Wycherly  jumped  to  the  gangway 
and  was  out  of  sight  quick  as  thought.  Greenly  and  Sir 
Gervaise  followed,  when  the  boat  shoved  off. 

Although  the  seas  had  greatly  subsided,  and  their  combs 
were  no  longer  dangerous,  the  Atlantic  was  far  from  being 
as  quiet  as  a  lake  in  a  summer  eventide.  At  the  very  first 
dash  of  the  oars  the  barge  rose  on  a  long,  heavy  swell  that 
buoyed  her  up  like  a  bubble,  and  as  the  water  glided 
from  under  her  again,  it  seemed  as  if  she  was  about  to 
sink  into  some  cavern  of  the  ocean.  Few  things  give 
more  vivid  impressions  of  helplessness  than  boats  thus 
tossed  by  the  waters  when  not  in  their  raging  humors  ;  for 
one  is  apt  to  expect  better  treatment  than  thus  to  be  made 
the  plaything  of  the  element.  All,  however,  who  have 
ever  floated  on  even  the  most  quiet  ocean,  must  have  ex 
perienced  more  or  less  of  this  helpless  dependence,  the 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  353 

stoutest  boat,  impelled  by  the  lustiest  crews,  appearing 
half  the  time  like  a  feather  floating  in  capricious  currents 
of  the  air. 

The  occupants  of  the  barge,  however,  were  too  familiar 
with  their  situation  to  think  much  of  these  matters  ;  and 
as  soon  as  Sir  Gervaise  assented  to  Wycherly's  offer  to 
take  the  tiller,  he  glanced  upward,  with  a  critical  eye,  in 
order  to  scan  the  Plantagenet's  appearance. 

"  That  fellow,  Morganic,  has  got  a  better  excuse  for  his 
xebec-rig  than  I  had  supposed,  Greenly,"  he  said,  after  a 
minute  of  observation.  ''Your  fore  top-mast  is  at  least 
six  inches  too  far  forward,  and  I  beg  you  will  have  it 
stayed  aft  to-morrow  morning,  if  the  weather  permit. 
None  of  your  Mediterranean  craft  for  me,  in  the  narrow 
seas." 

"  Very  well,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  the  spar  shall  be  righted  in 
the  morning  watch,"  quietly  returned  the  Captain. 

"  Now,  there's  Goodfellow,  half-parson  as  he  is  ;  the  man 
contrives  to  keep  his  sticks  more  upright  than  any  captain 
in  the  fleet.  You  never  see  a  spar  half  an  inch  out  of  its 
place,  on  board  the  Warspite." 

"  That  is  because  her  captain  trims  every  thing  by  his 
own  life,  sir,"  rejoined  Greenly,  smiling.  "  Were  we  half 
as  good  as  he  is,  in  other  matters,  we  might  be  better  than 
we  are  in  seamanship." 

"  I  do  not  think  religion  hurts  a  sailor,  Greenly — no,  not 
in  the  least.  That  is  to  say,  when  he  don't  wedge  his 
masts  too  tight,  but  leaves  play  enough  for  all  weathers. 
There  is  no  cant  in  Goodfellow." 

"  Not  the  least  of  it,  sir,  and  that  it  is  which  makes  him 
so  great  a  favorite.  The  Chaplain  of  the  Warspite  is  of 
some  use  ;  but  one  might  as  well  have  a  bowsprit  rigged 
out  of  a  cabin-window,  as  have  our  chap." 

"  Why,  we  never  bury  a  man,  Greenly,  without  putting 
him  into  the  water  as  a  Christian  should  be,"  returned  Sir 
Gervaise,  with  the  simplicity  of  a  true  believer  of  the  de 
cency  school.  "  I  hate  to  see  a  seaman  tossed  into  the 
ocean  like  a  bag  of  old  clothes." 

"  We  get  along  with  that  part  of  the  duty  pretty  well  ; 
but  before  a  man  is  dead,  the  parson  is  of  opinion  that  he 
belongs  altogether  to  the  Doctor." 

"I'd  bet  a  hundred  guineas,  Magrath  has  had  some  in 
fluence  over  him,  in  this  matter — give  the  Blenheim  a 
wider  berth,  Sir  Wycherly,  I  wish  to  see  how  she  looks 

23 


354  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

aloft  ;  he's  a  d — d  fellow,  that  Magrath  " — no  one  swore 
in  Sir  Gervaise's  boat  but  himself,  when  the  Vice-admiral's 
flag  was  flying  in  her  bows — ''and  he's  just  the  sort  of  man 
to  put  such  a  notion  into  the  Chaplain's  head." 

"Why,  there,  I  believe  you're  more  than  half  right,  Sir 
Gervaise  ;  I  overheard  a  conversation  between  them  one 
dark  night,  when  they  were  propping  the  mizzen-mast 
under  the  break  of  the  poop,  and  the  surgeon  did  maintain 
a  theory  very  like  that  you  mention,  sir." 

"Ah  !  he  did,  did  he  ?  It's  just  like  the  Scotch  rogue, 
who  wanted  to  persuade  me  that  your  poor  uncle,  Sir 
Wycherly,  ought  not  to  have  been  blooded,  in  as  clear  a 
case  of  apoplexy  as  ever  was  met  with." 

"Well,  I  didn't  think  he  could  have  carried  his  impu 
dence  as  far  as  that,"  observed  Greenly,  whose  medical 
knowledge  was  about  on  a  par  with  that  of  Sir  Gervaise. 
"  I  didn't  think  even  a  doctor  would  dare  to  hold  such  a 
doctrine  !  As  for  the  Chaplain,  to  him  he  laid  down  the 
principle  that  religion  and  medicine  never  worked  well  to 
gether.  He  said  religion  was  an  '  alterative,'  and  would 
neutralize  a  salt  as  quick  as  fire." 

"  He's  a  great  vagabond,  that  Magrath,  when  he  gets 
hold  of  a  young  hand,  sir  ;  and  I  wish  with  all  my  heart 
the  Pretender  had  him,  with  two  or  three  pounds  of  his 
favorite  medicines  with  him — I  think,  between  the  two, 
England  might  reap  some  advantage,  Greenly.  Now,  to 
my  notion,  Wychecombe,  the  Blenheim  would  make  better 
weather,  if  her  masts  were  shortened  at  least  two  feet." 

"  Perhaps,  she  might,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  but  would  she  be 
as  certain  a  ship,  in  coming  into  action  in  light  winds  and 
at  critical  moments?" 

"  Umph  !  It's  time  for  us  old  fellows  to  look  about  us, 
Greenly,  when  the  boys  begin  to  reason  on  a  line  of  battle  ! 
Don't  blush,  Wychecombe  ;  don't  blush.  Your  remark 
was  sensible,  and  shows  reflection.  No  country  can  ever 
have  a  powerful  marine,  or  one  likely  to  produce  much 
influence  in  her  wars, that  does  not  pay  rigid  attention  to 
the  tactics  of  fleets.  Your  frigate  actions,  and  sailing  of 
single  ships,  are  well  enough  as  drill  ;  but  the  great  prac 
tice  must  be  in  squadron.  Ten  heavy  ships,  in  good  fleet 
discipline,  and  kept  at  sea,  will  do  more  than  a  hundred 
single  cruisers,  in  establishing  and  maintaining  discipline  ; 
and  it  is  only  by  using  vessels  together,  that  we  find  out 
what  both  ships  and  men  can  do.  Now,  we  owe  the  sue- 


THE    Tll'O   ADMIRALS.  355 

cess  of  this  day  to  our  practice  of  sailing  in  close  order, 
and  in  knowing  how  to  keep  our  stations — else  would  six 
ships  never  have  been  able  to  carry  away  the  palm  of  vic 
tory  from  twelve — palm  !  aye,  that's  the  very  word.  Green 
ly,  I  was  trying  to  think  of  this  morning.  Daly's  paddy 
should  have  had  a  palm-branch  in  its  hand,  as  an  emblem 
of  victory." 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

He  that  has  sailed  upon  the  dark-blue  sea, 

Has  viewed  at  times,  I  ween,  a  full  fair  sight  ; 
When  the  fresh  breeze  is  fair  as  breeze  may  be, 

The  white  soil  set,  the  gallant  frigate  tight ; 

Mast,  spires,  and  strand  retiring  to  the  sight, 
The  glorious  main  expanding  o'er  the  bow, 

The  convoy  spread  like  wild  swans  in  their  flight, 
The  dullest  sailor  wearing  bravely  now, 
So  gayly  curl  the  weaves  before  each  dashing  prow. — BYRON. 

As  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes's  active  mind  was  liable  to  such 
sudden  mutations  of  thought  as  that  described  in  the  close 
of  the  last  chapter,  Greenl/  neither  smiled,  nor  dwelt  on 
the  subject  at  all  ;  he  simply  pointed  out  to  his  superior 
the  fact  that  they  were  now  abreast  of  the  Thunderer,  and 
desired  to  know  whether  it  was  his  pleasure  to  proceed 
any  farther. 

"  To  the  Carnatic,  Greenly,  if  Sir  Wycherly  will  have 
the  goodness  to  shape  his  course  thither.  I  have  a  word 
to  say  to  my  friend  Parker,  before  we  sleep  to-night. 
Give  us  room,  however,  to  look  at  Morganic's  fancies,  for 
I  never  pass  his  ship  without  learning  something  new. 
Lord  Morganic's  vessel  is  a  good  school  for  us  old  fellows 
to  attend — hey,  Greenly  ?  " 

"  The  Achilles  is  certainly  a  model  vessel  in  some  re 
spects,  Sir  Gervaise,  though  I  flatter  myself  the  Plantage- 
nets  have  no  great  occasion  to  imitate  her,  in  order  to  gain 
a  character." 

"  You  imitate  Morganic  in  order  to  know  how  to  keep  a 
ship  in  order  !  Poh  !  let  Morganic  come  to  school  to  you. 
Yet  the  fellow  is  not  bashful  i-n  battle  neither  ;  keeps  his 
station  well,  and  makes  himself  both  heard  and  felt.  Ah  ! 
there  he  is,  flourishing  his  hat  on  the  poop,  and  wondering 
what  the  deuce  Sir  Jarvey's  after,  now  !  Sheer  in,  Wyche- 
combe,  and  let  us  hear  what  he  has  to  say." 


356  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"  Good  evening,  Sir  Gervaise,"  called  out  the  Earl,  as 
usual  taking  the  initiative  in  the  discourse  ;  "  I  was  in 
hopes  when  I  saw  your  flag  in  the  boat,  that  you  were  go 
ing  to  do  me  a  favor  to  open  a  bottle  of  claret,  and  to 
taste  some  fruit  I  have  still  standing  on  the  table." 

"I  thank  you,  my  lord,  but  business  before  pleasure. 
We  have  not  been  idle  to-day,  though  to  morrow  shall  be 
still  more  busy.  How  does  the  Achilles  steer,  now  her 
foremast  is  in  its  place  ? " 

"Yaws  like  a  fellow  with  his  grog  aboard,  Sir  Gervaise, 
on  my  honor  !  We  shall  never  do  any  thing  with  her,  un 
til  you  let  us  consent  to  stay  her  spars,  in  our  own  fashion. 
Do  you  intend  to  send  me  Daly  back,  or  am  I  to  play  first 
lieutenant  myself,  Admiral  ?  " 

"  Daly's  shipped  for  the  cruise,  and  you  must  do  as  well 
as  you  can  without  him.  If  you  find  yourself  without  a 
second  astern,  in  the  course  of  the  night,  do  not  fancy  she 
has  gone  to  the  bottom.  Keep  good  lookouts,  and  pay  at 
tention  to  the  signals." 

As  Sir  Gervaise  waved  his  hand,  the  young  noble  did 
not  venture  to  reply,  much  less  to  ask  a  question,  though 
there  was  not  a  little  speculation  on  the  poop  of  the  Achil 
les,  concerning  the  meaning  of  his  words.  The  boats 
moved  on,  and  five  minutes  later  Sir  Gervaise  was  on  the 
quarter-deck  of  the  Carnatic. 

Parker  received  the  Commander-in-chief,  hat  in  hand, 
with  a  solicitude  and  anxiety  that  were  constitutional,  per 
haps,  and  which  no  consciousness  of  deserving  could  en 
tirely  appease.  Habit,  however,  had  its  share  in  it,  since, 
accustomed  to  defer  to  rank  from  boyhood,  and  the  archi 
tect  of  his  own  "little  fortune,"  he  had  ever  attached  more 
importance  to  the  commendation  of  his  superior  than  was 
usual  with  those  who  had  other  props  to  lean  on  than  their 
own  services.  As  soon  as  the  honors  of  the  quarter-deck 
had  been  duly  paid — for  these  Sir  Gervaise  never  neglected 
himself,  nor  allowed  others  to  neglect — the  Vice-admiral 
intimated  to  Captain  Parker  a  desire  to  see  him  in  his 
cabin,  requesting  Greenly  and  Wycherly  to  accompany 
them  below. 

"  Upon  my  word,  Parker,"  commenced  Sir  Gervaise, 
looking  round  him  at  the  air  of  singular  domestic  comfort 
that  the  after-cabin  of  the  ship  presented,  "you  have  the 
knack  of  taking  a  house  to  sea  with  you  that  no  other  cap 
tain  of  the  fleet  possesses  !  No  finery,  no  Morganics,  but 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  357 

a  plain,  wholesome  domestic  look  that  might  make  a  man 
believe  he  was  in  his  father's  house.  I  would  give  a  thou 
sand  pounds  if  my  vagabonds  could  give  the  Plantagenet 
such  a  Bowldero  look,  now  !  " 

"  Less  than  a  hundred,  sir,  have  done  the  little  you  see 
here.  Mrs.  Parker  makes  it  a  point  to  look  to  those  mat 
ters  herself,  and  in  that  lies  the  whole  secret,  perhaps.  A 
good  wife  is  a  great  blessing,  Sir  Gervaise,  though  you 
have  never  been  able  to  persuade  yourself  into  the  notion, 
I  believe." 

"  I  hardly  think,  Parker,  the  wife  can  do  it  all.  Now 
there's  Stowel,  Bluewater's  captain,  he  is  married  as 
well  as  yourself — nay,  by  George,  I've  heard  the  old 
fellow  say  he  had  as  much  wife  as  any  man  in  his  Majesty's 
service — but  his  cabin  looks  like  a  cobbler's  barn,  and  his 
state-room  like  a  soldier's  bunk  !  When  we  were  lieuten 
ants  together  in  the  Eurydice,  Parker,  your  state-room  had 
just  the  same  air  of  comfort  about  it  that  this  cabin  has  at 
this  instant.  No,  no — it's  in  the  grain,  or  it  would  never 
show  itself  in  all  times  and  places." 

"  You  forget,  Sir  Gervaise,  that  when  I  had  the  honor 
to  be  your  messmate  in  the  Eurydice,  I  was  a  married 
man." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  my  old  friend  ;  so  you  were,  in 
deed  !  Why,  that  was  a  confounded  long  time  ago,  hey, 
Parker  ?  " 

"It  was,  truly,  sir  ;  but  I  was  poor,  and  could  not  afford 
the  extravagance  of  a  single  life.  I  married  for  the  sake 
of  economy,  Admiral  Oakes." 

"And  love,"  answered  Sir  Gervaise,  laughing.  "  I'll 
warrant  you,  Greenly,  that  he  persuaded  Mrs.  Parker  into 
that  notion,  whether  true  or  not.  I'll  warrant  you  he 
didn't  tell  her  he  married  for  so  sneaking  a  thing  as  econ 
omy?  I  should  like  to  see  your  state-room  now,  Parker." 

"  Nothing  easier,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  the  Captain, 
rising  and  opening  the  door.  "  Here  it  is,  sir,  though 
little  worthy  the  attention  of  the  owner  of  Bowldero." 

"A  notable  place,  truly!  and  with  a  housewife-look 
about  it  that  must  certainly  remind  you  of  Mrs.  Parker — 
unless,  indeed,  that  picture  at  the  foot  of  your  cot  puts 
other  notions  into  your  head  !  What  young  hussy  have 
you  got  there,  my  old  Eurydice  ?  Hey,  Parker  ?  " 

"  That  is  a  picture  of  my  faithful  wife,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  a 
proper  companion,  I  hope,  of  my  cruise." 


358  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

11  Hey  !  What,  that  young  thing  your  wife,  Parker  !  How 
the  d 1  came  she  to  have  you  ?  " 

"  Ah,  Sir  Gervaise,  she  is  a  young  thing  no  longer,  but 
is  well  turned  toward  sixty.  The  picture  was  taken  when 
she  was  a  bride,  and  is  all  the  dearer  to  me,  now  that  I 
know  the  original  has  shared  my  fortunes  so  long.  I  never 
look  at  it,  without  remembering,  with  gratitude,  how  much 
she  thinks  of  me  in  our  cruises,  and  how  often  she  prays 
for  our  success.  You  are  not  forgotten,  either,  sir,  in  her 
prayers." 

"  I  !  "  exclaimed  the  Vice-admiral,  quite  touched  at  the 
earnest  simplicity  of  the  other.  "  D'ye  hear  that,  Greenly? 
I'll  engage  now,  this  lady  is  a  good  woman — a  really  ex 
cellent  creature — just  such  another  as  my  poor  sainted 
mother  was,  and  a  blessing  to  all  around  her  !  Give  me 
your  hand,  Parker  ;  and  when  you  write  next  to  your  wife, 
tell  her  from  me,  God  bless  her  ;  and  say  all  you  think  a 
man  ought  to  say  on  such  an  occasion.  And  now  to  busi 
ness.  Let  us  seat  ourselves  in  this  snug,  domestic-looking 
cabin  of  yours,  and  talk  our  matters  over." 

The  two  captains  and  Wycherly  followed  the  Vice-ad 
miral  into  the  after-cabin,  where  the  latter  seated  himself 
on  a  small  sofa,  while  the  others  took  chairs,  in  respectful 
attitudes  near  him,  no  familiarity  or  jocularity  on  the  part 
of  a  naval  superior  ever  lessening  the  distance  between  him 
and  those  who  hold  subordinate  commissions — a  fact  that 
legislators  would  do  well  to  remember,  when  graduating 
rank  in  a  service.  As  soon  as  all  were  placed,  Sir  Ger 
vaise  opened  his  mind. 

"  I  have  a  delicate  piece  of  duty,  Captain  Parker,  "  he 
commenced,  "  which  I  wish  intrusted  to  yourself.  You 
must  know  that  we  handled  the  ship  which  escaped  us 
this  morning  by  running  down  into  her  own  line,  pretty 
roughly,  in  every  respect  ;  besides  cutting  two  of  her  masts 
out  of  her.  This  ship,  as  you  may  have  seen,  has  got  up 
jury-masts,  already  ;  but  they  are  spars  that  can  only  be 
intended  to  carry  her  into  port.  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  is 
not  the  man  I  take  him  to  be,  if  he  intends  to  leave  the 
quarrel  between  us  where  it  is.  Still,  he  cannot  keep  that 
crippled  ship  in  his  fleet,  any  more  than  we  can  keep  our 
prize,  and  I  make  no  doubt  he  will  send  her  off  to  Cher 
bourg  as  soon  as  it  is  dark  ;  most  probably  accompanied 
by  one  of  his  corvettes  ;  or  perhaps  by  a  frigate." 

"Yes,  Sir  Gervaise,"  returned    Parker,  thoughtfully,  as 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  359 

soon  as  his  superior  ceased  to  speak  ;  "what  you  predict, 
is  quite  likely  to  happen." 

"  It  must  happen,  Parker,  the  wind  blowing  directly  for 
his  haven.  Now,  you  may  easily  imagine  what  I  want  of 
the  Carnatic." 

"I  suppose  I  understand  you,  sir  ;  and  yet,  if  I  might 
presume  to  express  a  wish " 

"  Speak  out,  old  boy — you're  talking  to  a  friend.  I  have 
chosen  you  to  serve  you,  both  as  one  I  like,  and  as  the 
oldest  captain  in  the  fleet.  Whoever  catches  that  ship  will 
hear  more  of  it." 

"  Very  true,  sir  ;  but  are  we  not  likely  to  have  more 
work,  here  ?  and  would  it  be  altogether  prudent  to  send  so 
fine  a  ship  as  the  Carnatic  away,  when  the  enemy  will 
count  ten  to  six,  even  if  she  remain  ?" 

"  All  this  has  been  thought  of;  and  I  suppose  your  own 
feeling  has  been  anticipated.  You  think  it  will  be  more 
honorable  to  your  vessel,  to  keep  her  place  in  the  line, 
than  to  take  a  ship  already  half  beaten." 

"  That's  it,  indeed,  Sir  Gervaise.  I  do  confess  some 
such  thoughts  were  crossing  my  mind." 

"  Then  see  how  easy  it  is  to  rowse  them  out  of  it.  I  can 
not  fight  the  French,  in  this  moderate  weather,  without  a 
reinforcement.  When  the  rear  joins,  we  shall  be  just  ten 
to  ten,  without  you,  and  with  you,  should  be  eleven  to 
ten.  Now,  I  confess,  I  don't  wish  the  least  odds,  and  shall 
send  away  somebody  ;  especially  when  I  feel  certain  a 
noble  two-decked  ship  will  be  the  reward.  If  a  frigate 
accompany  the  crippled  fellow,  you'll  have  your  hands  full, 
and  a  very  fair  fight  ;  and  should  you  get  either,  it  will  be 
a  handsome  thing.  What  say  you  now,  Parker?" 

"  I  begin  to  think  better  of  the  plan,  Sir  Gervaise,  and 
•am  grateful  for  the  selection.  I  wish,  however,  I  knew 
your  own  precise  wishes — I've  always  found  it  safe  to  follow 
them,  sir." 

"  Here  they  are,  then.  Get  four  or  five  sets  of  the  sharp 
est  eyes  you  have,  and  send  them  aloft  to  keep  a  steady 
look  on  your  chap,  while  there  is  light  enough  to  be  cer 
tain  of  him.  In  a  little  while,  they'll  be  able  to  recognize 
him  in  the  dark  ;  and  by  keeping  your  night-glasses  well 
levelled,  he  can  scarcely  slip  off,  without  your  missing  him. 
The  moment  he  is  gone,  wear  short  and  round,  and  make 
the  best  of  your  way  for  Cape  la  Hogue,  or  Alderney  ;  you 
will  go  three  feet  to  his  two,  and,  my  life  on  it,  by  daylight 


360  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

you'll  have  him  to  windward  of  you,  and  then  you'll  be 
certain  of  him.  Wait  for  no  signals  from  me,  but  be  off,  as 
soon  as  it  is  dark.  When  your  work  is  done,  make  the 
best  of  your  way  to  the  nearest  English  port,  and  clap  a 
Scotchman  on  your  shoulder  to  keep  the  king's  sword 
from  chafing  it.  They  thought  me  fit  for  knighthood  at 
three-and-twenty  and  the  deuce  is  in  it,  Parker,  if  you  are 
not  worthy  of  it  at  three-and-sixty  ! " 

"  Ah  !  Sir  Gervaise,  everything  you  undertook  succeeded ! 
You  never  yet  failed  in  any  expedition." 

"  That  has  come  from  attempting  much.  My  plans  have 
often  failed  ;  but  as  something  good  has  generally  followed 
from  them,  I  have  the  credit  of  designing  to  do  exactly 
what  I've  done." 

Then  followed  a  long,  detailed  discourse,  on  the  subject 
before  them,  in  which  Greenly  joined  ;  the  latter  making 
several  useful  suggestions  to  the  veteran  commander  of 
the  Carnatic. 

After  passing  quite  an  hour  in  the  cabin  of  Parker,  Sir 
Gervaise  took  his  leave  and  re-entered  his  barge.  It  was 
now  so  dark  that  small  objects  could  not  be  distinguished 
a  hundred  yards,  and  the  piles  of  ships,  as  the  boat  glided 
past  them,  resembled  black  hillocks,  with  clouds  floating 
among  their  tree-like  and  waving  spars.  No  captain  pre 
sumed  to  hail  the  Commander-in-chief,  as  he  rowed  down 
the  line  again,  with  the  exception  of  the  peer  of  the  realm. 
He  indeed  had  always  something  to  say  ;  and,  as  he  had 
been  conjecturing  what  could  induce  the  Vice-admiral  to 
pay  so  long  a  visit  to  the  Carnatic,  he  could  not  refrain 
from  uttering  so  much  aloud,  when  he  heard  the  measured 
strokes  of  the  oars  from  the  returning  barge. 

"We  shall  be*  jealous  of  this  compliment  to  Captain 
Parker,  Sir  Gervaise,"  he  called  out,  "  unless  your  favors- 
are  occasionally  extended  to  some  of  us  less  worthy  ones." 

"  Aye,  aye,  Morganic,  you'll  be  remembered  in  proper 
time.  In  the  meanwhile  keep  your  people's  eyes  open,  so 
as  not  to  lose  sight  of  the  French.  We  shall  have  some 
thing  to  say  to  them  in  the  morning." 

"Spare  us  a  night-action,  if  possible,  Sir  Gervaise!  I 
do  detest  fighting  when  I'm  sleepy  ;  and  I  like  to  see  my 
enemy,  too.  As  much  as  you  please  in  the  daytime  ;  but 
a  quiet  night,  I  do  beseech  you,  sir." 

"  I'll  warrant  you,  now,  if  the  opera  or  Ranelagh,  or  a 
drum,  or  a  masquerade,  were  inviting  you,  Morganic, 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  361 

you'd  think  but  little  of  your  pillow ! "  answered  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,  dryly;  "whatever  you  do  yourself,  my  lord,  don't 
let  the  Achilles  get  asleep  on  duty  ;  I  may  have  need  of 
her  to-morrow.  Give  way,  Wychecombe,  give  way,  and 
let  us  get  home  again." 

In  fifteen  minutes  from  that  instant,  Sir  Gervaise  was 
once  more  on  the  poop  of  the  Plantagenet,  and  the  barge 
in  its  place  on  deck.  Greenly  was  attending  to  the  duties 
of  the  ship,  and  Bunting  stood  in  readiness  to  circulate 
such  orders  as  it  might  suit  the  Commander-in-chief  to 
give. 

It  was  now  nine  o'clock,  and  it  was  not  easy  to  distin 
guish  objects  on  the  ocean,  even  as  large  as  a  ship,  at  the 
distance  of  half  a  league.  By  the  aid  of  the  glasses,  how 
ever,  a  vigilant  lookout  was  kept  on  the  French  vessels, 
which,  by  this  time,  were  quite  two  leagues  distant,  draw 
ing  more  ahead.  It  was  necessary  to  fill  away,  in  order  to 
close  with  them,  and  a  night-signal  was  made  to  that  effect. 
The  whole  British  line  braced  forward  their  main-yards, 
as  it  might  be,  by  a  common  impulse,  and  had  there  been 
one  there  of  sufficiently  acute  senses,  he  might  have  heard 
all  six  of  the  main-topsails  flapping  at  the  same  instant. 
As  a  matter  of  course  the  vessels  started  ahead,  and,  the 
order  being  to  follow  the  Vice  admiral  in  a  close  line 
ahead,  when  the  Plantagenet  edged  off,  so  as  to  bring  the 
wind  abeam,  each  vessel  did  the  same,  in  succession,  or  as 
soon  as  in  the  Commander-in-chief's  wake,  as  if  guided  by 
instinct.  About  ten  minutes  later,  the  Carnatic,  to  the 
surprise  of  those  who  witnessed  the  manoeuvre  in  the 
Achilles,  wore  short  round,  and  set  studding-sails  on  the 
starboard  side,  steering  large.  The  darkest  portion  of  the 
horizon  being  that  which  lay  to  the  eastward,  or  in  the 
direction  of  the  continent,  in  twenty  minutes  the  pyramid 
of  her  shadowy  outline  was  swallowed  in  the  gloom.  All 
this  time,  La  Victoire  with  the  Druid  leading  and  towing, 
kept  upon  a  bowline  ;  and  an  hour  later,  when  Sir  Ger 
vaise  found  himself  abeam  of  the  French  line  again,  and 
half  a  league  to  windward  of  it,  no  traces  were  to  be  seen 
of  the  three  last  ships  mentioned. 

"  So  far,  all  goes  well,  gentlemen,"  observed  the  Vice- 
admiral  to  the  group  around  him  on  the  poop  ;  "  and  we 
will  now  try  to  count  the  enemy,  to  make  certain  he,  too, 
has  no  stragglers  out  to  pick  up  waifs.  Greenly,  try  that 
glass  ;  it  is  set  for  the  night,  and  your  eyes  are  the  best 


362  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

we  have.  Be  particular  looking  for  the  fellow  under  jury- 
masts." 

"  I  make  out  but  ten  ships  in  the  line,  Sir  Gervaise," 
answered  the  Captain,  after  a  long  examination;  "of 
course  the  crippled  ship  must  have  gone  to  leeward.  Of 
her,  certainly  I  can  find  no  traces." 

"  You  will  oblige  me,  Sir  Wycherlv,  by  seeing  what  you 
can  make  out,  in  the  same  way." 

After  a  still  longer  examination  than  that  of  the  captain, 
Wycherly  made  the  same  report,  adding  that  he  thought 
he  also  missed  the  frigate  that  had  been  nearest  Le  Fou- 
droyant,  repeating  her  signals  throughout  the  day.  This 
circumstance  gratified  Sir  Gervaise,  as  he  was  pleased  to 
find  his  prognostics  come  true,  and  he  was  not  sorry  to  be 
rid  of  one  of  the  enemy's  light  cruisers  ;  a  species  of  vessel 
that  often  proved  embarrassing,  after  a  decided  affair,  even 
to  the  conqueror. 

"I  think,  Sir  Gervaise,"  Wycherly  modestly  added, 
"  that  the  French  have  boarded  their  tacks,  and  are  press 
ing  up  to  windward  to  near  us.  Did  it  not  appear  so  to 
you,  Captain  Greenly?" 

"  Not  at  all.  If  they  carry  courses,  the  sails  have  been 
set  within  the  last  five  minutes — ha  !  Sir  Gervaise,  that  is 
an  indication  of  a  busy  night  !  " 

As  he  spoke,  Greenly  pointed  to  the  place  where  the 
French  Admiral  was  known  to  be,  where  at  that  instant 
appeared  a  double  row  of  lights  ;  proving  that  the  batter 
ies  had  their  lanterns  lit,  and  showing  a  disposition  to  en 
gage.  In  less  than  a  minute  the  whole  French  line  was  to 
be  traced  along  the  sea,  by  the  double  rows  of  illumina 
tion,  the  light  resembling  that  which  is  seen  through  the 
window  of  a  room  that  has  a  bright  fire,  rather  than  one  in 
which  lamps  or  candles  are  actually  visible.  As  this  was  just 
the  species  of  engagement  in  which  the  English  had  much 
to  risk,  and  little  to  gain,  Sir  Gervaise  immediately  gave 
orders  to  brace  forward  the  yards,  to  board  fore-and-main 
tacks,  and  to  set  topgallant-sails.  As  a  matter  of  course, 
the  ships  astern  made  saH  in  the  same  manner,  and  hauled 
up  on  taut  bowlines,  following  the  Admiral. 

"This  is  not  our  play,"  coolly  remarked  Sir  Gervaise; 
"a  crippled  ship  would  drop  directly  into  their  arms,  and 
as  for  any  success  at  long  shot,  in  a  two-to-one  fight,  it  is 
not  to  be  looked  for.  No,  no,  Monsieur  de  Vervillin,  show 
us  your  teeth  if  you  will,  and  a  pretty  sight  it  is,  but  you 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  363 

do  not  draw  a  shot  from  me.  I  hope  the  order  to  show  no 
lights  is  duly  attended  to." 

"  I  do  not  think  there  is  a  light  visible  from  any  ship  in 
the  fleet,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  Bunting,  "though  we 
are  so  near,  there  can  be  no  great  difficulty  in  telling  where 
we  are." 

"  All  but  the  Carnatic  and  the  prize,  Bunting.  The  more 
fuss  they  make  with  us,  the  less  will  they  think  of  them." 

It  is  probable  the  French  Admiral  had  been  deceived  by 
the  near  approach  of  his  enemy,  for  whose  prowess  he  had 
a  profound  respect.  He  had  made  his  preparations  in 
expectation  of  an  attack,  but  he  did  not  open  his  fire,  al 
though  heavy  shot  would  certainly  have  told  with  effect. 
Indisposed  to  the  uncertainty  of  a  night  action,  he  declined 
bringing  it  on,  and  the  lights  disappeared  from  his  ports 
an  hour  later  ;  at  that  time  the  English  ships,  by  carrying 
sail  harder  than  was  usual  in  so  stiff  a  breeze,  found  them 
selves  out  of  gun-shot,  on  the  weather  bow  of  their 
enemies.  Then,  and  not  till  then,  did  Sir  Gervaise  reduce 
his  canvas,  having,  by  means  of  his  glasses,  first  ascertained 
that  the  French  had  again  hauled  up  their  courses,  and 
were  moving  along  at  a  very  easy  rate  of  sailing. 

It  was  now  near  midnight,  and  Sir  Gervaise  prepared  to 
go  below.  Previously  to  quitting  tb?  deck,  however,  he 
gave  very  explicit  orders  to  Greenly,  \vno  transmitted  them 
to  the  First  Lieutenant,  that  officer  or  tne  Captain  intend 
ing  to  be  on  the  lookout  through  the  night  ;  the  move 
ments  of  the  whole  squadron  being  so  dependent  on  those 
of  the  flag  ship.  The  Vice-admiral  then  retired,  and  went 
coolly  to  bed.  He  was  not  a  man  to  lose  his  rest,  because 
an  enemy  was  just  out  of  gun-shot.  Accustomed  to  be 
manoeuvring  in  front  of  hostile  fleets,  the  situation  had  lost 
its  novelty,  and  he  had  so  much  confidence  in  the  practice 
of  his  captains,  that  he  well  knew  nothing  could  occur  so 
long  as  his  orders  were  obeyed  ;  to  doubt  the  latter  would 
have  been  heresy  in  his  eyes.  In  professional  nonchalance, 
no  man  exceeded  our  Vice-admiral.  Blow  high,  or  blow 
low,  it  never  disturbed  the  economy  of  his  cabin-life,  be 
yond  what  unavoidably  was  connected  with  the  comfort  of 
his  ship  ;  nor  did  any  prospect  of  battle  cause  a  meal  to 
vary  a  minute  in  time  or  a  particle  in  form,  until  the  bulk- 
heads»\vere  actually  knocked  down,  and  the  batteries  were 
cleared  for  action. 

Although  excitable  in  trifles,  and  sometimes  a  little  irri- 


364  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

table,  Sir  Gervaise,  in  the  way  of  his  profession,  was  a 
great  man  on  great  occasions.  His  temperament  was 
sanguine,  and  his  spirit  both  decided  and  bold  ;  and,  in 
common  with  all  such  men  who  see  the  truth  at  all,  when 
he  did  see  it,  he  saw  it  so  clearly  as  to  throw  all  the  doubts 
that  beset  minds  of  a  less  masculine  order,  into  the  shade. 
On  the  present  occasion,  he  was  sure  nothing  could  well 
occur  to  disturb  his  rest  ;  and  he  took  it  with  the  com 
posure  of  one  on  terra  firma  and  in  the  security  of  peace. 
Unlike  those  who  are  unaccustomed  to  scenes  of  excite 
ment,  he  quietly  undressed  himself,  and  his  head  was  no 
sooner  on  its  pillow  than  he  fell  into  a  profound  sleep. 

It  would  have  been  a  curious  subject  of  observation  to 
an  experienced  person,  to  note  the  manner  in  which  the 
two  fleets  manoeuvred  throughout  the  night.  After  several 
hours  of  ineffectual  efforts  to  bring  their  enemies  fairly 
within  reach  of  their  guns,  after  the  moon  had  risen,  the 
French  gave  the  matter  up  for  a  time,  shortening  sail  while 
most  of  their  superior  officers  caught  a  little  rest. 

The  sun  was  just  rising  as  Galleygo  laid  his  hand  on  the 
shoulder  of  the  Vice-admiral,  agreeably  to  orders  given 
the  previous  night.  The  touch  sufficed  ;  Sir  Gervaise  be 
ing  wide  awake  in  an  instant.  "  Well,"  he  said,  rising  to 
a  sitting  attitude,  and  putting  the  question  which  first  oc 
curs  to  a  seaman,  "  how's  the  weather  ? " 

"A  good  topgallant  breeze,  Sir  Jarvey,  and  just  what's 
this  ship's  play.  If  you'd  only  let  her  out,  and  on  them 
Johnny  Crapaud's,  she'd  be  down  among  'em,  in  half  an 
hour,  like  a  hawk  upon  a  chicken.  I  ought  to  report  to 
your  honor,  that  the  last  chicken  will  be  dished  for  break 
fast,  unless  we  gives  an  order  to  the  gunroom  steward  to 
turn  us  over  some  of  his  birds  as  pay  for  what  the  pigs 
eat  ;  which  were  real  capons." 

"  Why,  you  pirate,  you  would  not  have  me  commit  a 
robbery  on  the  high  seas,  would  ye  ? " 

"  What  robbery  would  it  be  to  order  the  gunroom  to 
sell  us  some  poultry  ?  Lord  !  Sir  Jarvey,  I'm  as  far  from 
wishing  to  take  a  thing  without  an  order,  as  the  gunner's 
yeoman  ;  but  let  Mr.  Atwood  put  it  in  black  and  white." 

"  Tush  !  "  interrupted  the  master.  "  How  did  the  French 
bear  from  us,  when  you  were  last  on  deck  ?" 

"Why,  there  they  is,  Sir  Jarvey,"  answered  Galleygo, 
drawing  the  curtain  from  before  the  state-room  window, 
and  allowing  the  Vice-admiral  to  see  the  rear  of  the  French 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  365 

line  for  himself,  by  turning  half  round  ;  "  and  just  where 
we  wants  'em.  Their  leading  ship  a  little  abaft  our  lee- 
beam,  distant  one  league.  That's  what  I  calls  satisfactory, 
now." 

"  Aye,  that  is  a  good  position,  Master  Galleygo.  Was 
the  prize  in  sight,  or  were  you  too  chicken-headed  to 
look  ? " 

"  I  chicken-headed  !  Well,  Sir  Jarvey,  of  all  characters 
and  description  of  me  that  your  honor  has  seen  fit  to  put 
abroad,  this  is  the  most  unjustest  ;  chickens  being  a  food 
1  never  thinks  on,  off  soundings.  Pig-headed  you  might 
in  reason  call  me,  Sir  Jarvey  ;  for  I  do  look  arter  the  pigs, 
which  is  the  only  real  stand-by  in  a  ship  ;  but  I  never 
dreams  of  a  chicken,  except  for  your  happetite.  When 
they  was  eight  on  'em " 

"Was  the  prize  in  sight?"  demanded  Sir  Gervaise,  a 
little  sharply. 

"  No,  Sir  Jarvey  ;  she  had  disappeared,  and  the  Druid 
with  her.  But  this  isn't  all,  sir  ;  for  they  does  say,  some'at 
has  befallen  the  Carnatic,  she  having  gone  out  of  her  line, 
like  a'binnacle-lamp,  at  eight  bells." 

"  Aye,  she  is  not  visible  either  ?" 

"  Not  so  much  as  a  hen-coop,  Sir  Jarvey  !  We  all  won 
ders  what  has  become  of  Captain  Parker  ;  no  sign  of  him 
or  of  his  ship  is  to  be  found  on  the  briny  ocean.  The 
young  gentlemen  of  the  watch  laugh,  and  say  she  must 
have  gone  up  in  a  waterspout,  but  they  laughs  so  much  at 
misfortins,  generally,  that  I  never  minds  'em." 

"  Have  you  had  a  good  lookout  at  the  ocean,  this  morn 
ing,  Master  Galleygo  ?  "  asked  Sir  Gervaise,  drawing  his 
head  out  of  a  basin  of  water,  for,  by  this  time,  he  was  half- 
dressed,  and  making  preparations  for  the  razor.  "-You 
used  to  have  an  eye  for  a  chase,  when  we  were  in  a  frigate, 
and  ought  to  be  able  to  tell  me  if  Bluewater  is  in  sight." 

"  Admiral  Blue  !  Well,  Sir  Jarvey,  it  is  remarkable,  but 
I  had  just  rubbed  his  division  out  of  my  log,  and  forgotten 
all  about  it.  There  was  a  handful  of  craft,  or  so,  off  here 
to  the  nor'ard,  at  daylight,  but  I  never  thought  it  was  Ad 
miral  Blue,  it  being  more  nat'ral  to  suppose  him  in  his 
place,  as  usual,  in  the  rear  of  our  own  line.  Let  me  see, 
Sir  Jarvey,  how  many  ships  has  we  absent  under  Admiral 
Blue?" 

"Why,  the  five  two-deckers  of  his  own  division,  to  be 
sure,  besides  the  Ranger  and  the  Gnat.  Seven  sail  in  all." 


366  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"Yes,  that's  just  it!  Well,  your  honor,  there  was  fiv« 
sail  to  be  seen  out  here  to  the  nor'ard,  as  I  told  you,  and, 
sure  enough,  it  may  have  been  Admiral  Blue,  with  all  his 
craft." 

By  this  time  Sir  Gervaise  had  his  face  covered  with 
lather,  but  he  forgot  the  circumstance  in  a  moment.  As 
the  wind  was  at  the  northwest,  and  the  Plantagenet  was  on 
the  larboard  tack,  looking  in  the  direction  of  the  Bill  of 
Portland,  though  much  too  far  to  the  southward  to  allow 
the  land  to  be  seen,  his  own  larboard  quarter-galley  win 
dow  commanded  a  good  view  of  the  whole  horizon  to  wind 
ward.  Crossing  over  from  the  starboard  state-room,  which 
he  occupied  ex officio,  he  opened  the  window  in  question, 
and  took  a  look  for  himself.  There,  sure  enough,  was 
visible  a  squadron  of  five  ships,  in  close  order,  edging 
leisurely  down  on  the  two  lines,  under  their  topsails,  and 
just  near  enough  to  allow  it  to  be  ascertained  that  their 
courses  were  not  set.  This  sight  produced  a  sudden 
change  in  the  Vice-admiral's  movements.  The  business  of 
the  toilet  was  resumed  in  haste,  and  the  beard  was  mowed 
with  a  slashing  hand,  that  might  have  been  hazardous  in 
the  motion  of  a  ship,  but  for  the  long  experience  of  a 
sailor.  This  important  part  of  the  operation  was  scarcely 
through,  when  Locker  announced  the  presence  of  Captain 
Greenly  in  the  main  cabin. 

"What  now,  Greenly?  What  now?"  called  out  the 
Vice-admiral,  puffing  as  he  withdrew  his  head  again  from 
the  basin  ;  what  now,  Greenly  ?  Any  news  from  Blue- 
water  ? " 

"  I  am  happy  to  tell  you,  Sir  Gervaise,  he  has  been  in 
sight  more  than  an  hour,  and  is  closing  with  us,  though 
shyly  and  slowly.  I  would  not  let  you  be  called,  as  all 
\vas  right,  and  I  knew  sleep  was  necessary  to  a  clear  head." 

"  You  have  done  quite  right,  Greenly  ;  God  willing,  I 
intend  this  to  be  a  busy  day  !  The  French  must  see  our 
rear  division  ? " 

"  Beyond  a  doubt,  sir,but  they  show  no  signs  of  making 
off.  M.  de  Vervillin  will  fight,  I  feel  certain  ;  though  the 
experience  of  yesterday  may  render  him  a  little  shy  as  to 
the  mode." 

"  And  his  crippled  ship — old  Parker's  friend — I  take  it 
she  is  not  visible." 

"  You  are  quite  right  in  your  conjecture,  Sir  Gervaise  ; 
the  crippled  ship  is  off,  as  is  one  of  the  frigates,  no  doubt 


THE    TWO  ADMm^.  367 


to  see  her  in.  Blewet,  too,  has  go n^tetfl^to  windward  of 
the  French,  though  he  can  fetch  into^fe^?i*chorage  short 
of  Portsmouth,  if  this  breeze  stand." 

"Any  haven  will  do.  Our  little  success  will  animate 
the  king's  party,  and  give  it  more  eclat,  perhaps,  than  it 
really  merits.  Let  there  be  no  delay  with  the  breakfast 
this  morning,  Greenly  ;  it  will  be  a  busy  day." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  answered  the  Captain,  in  the  sailor's 
usual  manner  ;  "that  has  been  seen  to  already,  as  I  have 
expected  as  much.  Admiral  Bluewater  keeps  his  ships  in 
most  beautiful  order,  sir.  I  do  not  think  the  Caesar,  which 
leads,  is  two  cables'  length  from  the  Dublin,  the  sternmost 
vessel.  He  is  driving  four-in-hand,  with  a  tight  rein,  too, 
depend  on  it,  sir." 

At  this  instant,  Sir  Gervaise  came  out  of  his  state-room, 
his  coat  in  his  hand,  and  with  a  countenance  that  was 
thoughtful.  He  finished  dressing  with  an  abstracted  air, 
and  would  not  have  known  the  last  garment  was  on,  had 
not  Galleygo  given  a  violent  pull  on  its  skirts,  in  order  to 
smooth  the  cloth  about  the  shoulders. 

"  It  is  odd,  that  Bluewater  should  come  down  nearly  be 
fore  the  wind,  in  a  line  ahead,  and  not  in  a  line  abreast !  " 
Sir  Gervaise  rejoined,  as  his  steward  did  this  office  for 
him. 

"Let  Admiral  Blue  alone,  for  doing  what's  right,"  put 
in  Galleygo,  in  his  usual  confident  and  self-possessed  man 
ner.  "  By  keeping  his  ships  astern  of  hisself,  he  can  tell 
where  to  find  'em,  and  we  understands  from  experience,  if 
Admiral  Blue  knows  where  to  find  a  ship,  he  knows  how 
to  use  her." 

Instead  of  rebuking  this  interference,  which  went  a  little 
farther  than  common,  Greenly  was  surprised  to  see  the 
Vice-admiral  look  his  steward  intently  in  the  face,  as  if 
the  man  had  expressed  some  shrewd  and  comprehensive 
truth.  Then  turning  to  his  captain,  Sir  Gervaise  intimated 
an  intention  of  going  on  deck  to  survey  the  state  of  things 
with  his  own  eyes. 


368  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Thou  shouldst  have  died,  O  high-souled  chief  ! 

In  those  bright  days  of  glory  fled, 
When  triumph  so  prevailed  o'er  grief, 

We  scarce  would  mourn  the  dead — MRS.  HEMANS. 

THE  eventful  day  opened  with  most  of  the  glories  of  a 
summer's  morning.  The  wind  alone  prevented  it  from 
being  one  of  the  finest  sun-risings  in  July.  That  continued 
fresh,  at  northwest,  and,  consequently,  cool,  for  the  season. 
The  seas  of  the  southwest  gale  had  entirely  subsided,  and 
were  already  succeeded  by  the  regular  but  comparatively 
trifling  swell  of  the  new  breeze.  For  large  ships,  it  might 
be  called  smooth  water  ;  though  the  Driver  and  Active 
showed  by  their  pitching  and  unsteadiness,  and  even  the 
two-deckers,  by  their  waving  masts,  that  the  unquiet  ocean 
was  yet  in  motion.  The  wind  seemed  likely  to  stand,  and 
was  what  seamen  would  be  apt  to  call  a  good  six-knot 
breeze. 

To  leeward,  still  distant  about  a  league,  lay  the  French 
vessels,  drawn  up  in  beautiful  array,  and  in  an  order  so 
close,  and  a  line  so  regular,  as  to  induce  the  belief  that  M. 
de  Vervillin  had  made  his  dispositions  to  receive  the  ex 
pected  attack  in  his  present  position.  All  his  main-top 
sails  lay  flat  aback  ;  the  topgallant  sails  were  flying  loose, 
but  with  buntlines  and  clew-lines  hauled  up  ;  the  jibs  were 
fluttering  to  leeward  of  their  booms,  and  the  courses  were 
hanging  in  festoons  about  their  yards.  This  was  gallant 
fighting  canvas,  and  it  excited  the  admiration  of  even  his 
enemies.  To  increase  this  feeling,  just  as  Sir  Gervaise's 
foot  reached  the  poop,  the  whole  French  line  displayed 
their  ensigns,  and  Le  Foudroyant  fired  a  gun  to  windward. 

"  Hey,  Greenly  ? "  exclaimed  the  English  commander-in- 
chief  ;  "this  is  a  manly  defiance,  and  coming  from  M.  de 
Vervillin,  it  means  something  !  He  wishes  to  take  the  day 
for  it  ;  though,  as  I  think,  half  that  time  will  answer,  we 
will  wash  up  the  cups  before  we  go  at  it.  Make  the 
signals,  Bunting,  for  the  ships  to  heave  to,  and  then  get  to 
their  breakfasts,  as  fast  as  possible.  Steady  breeze — steady 
breeze,  Greenly,  and  all  we  want ! " 

Five  minutes  later,  while  Sir  Gervaise  was  running  his 
eye  over  the  signal-book,  the  Plantagenet's  calls  were  pip- 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  369 

ing  the  people  to  their  morning  meal,  at  least  a:i  hour 
earlier  than  common  ;  the  people  repaired  to  their  messes 
with  a  sort  of  stern  joy  ;  every  man  in  the  ship  understand 
ing  the  reason  of  a  summons  so  unusual.  The  calls  of  the 
vessels  astern  were  heard  soon  after,  and  one  of  the  officers 
who  was  watching  the  enemy  with  a  glass,  reported  that 
he  thought  the  French  were  breakfasting  also.  Orders 
being  given  to  the  officers  to  employ  the  next  half  hour  in 
the  same  manner,  nearly  everybody  was  soon  engaged  in 
eating  ;  few  thinking  that  the  meal  might  probably  be  their 
last.  Sir  Gervaise  felt  a  concern,  which  he  succeeded  in 
concealing,  however,  at  the  circumstance  that  the  ships  to 
windward  made  no  more  sail ;  though  he  refrained  from 
signaling  the  Rear-admiral  to  that  effect,  from  tenderness 
to  his  friend,  and  a  vague  apprehension  of  what  might  be 
the  consequences.  While  the  crews  were  eating,  he  stood 
gazing,  thoughtfully,  at  the  noble  spectacle  the  enemy 
offered,  to  leeward,  occasionally  turning  wistful  glances  at 
the  division  that  was  constantly  drawing  nearer  to  wind 
ward.  At  length  Greenly,  himself,  reported  that  the  Plan- 
tagenets  had  "  turned  the  hands  to"  again.  At  this  intel 
ligence  Sir  Gervaise  started,  as  from  a  reverie,  smiled,  and 
spoke.  We  will  here  remark  that  now,  as  on  the  previous 
day,  all  the  natural  excitability  of  manner  had  disappeared 
from  the  Commander-in-chief,  and  he  was  quiet,  and  ex 
ceedingly  gentle  in  his  deportment.  This,  all  who  knew 
him  understood  to  denote  a  serious  determination  to  en 
gage. 

*'  I  have  desired  Galleygo  to  set  my  little  table,  half  an 
hour  hence,  in  the  after-cabin,  Greenly,  and  you  will  share 
the  meal  with  me.  Sir  Wycherly  will  be  of  our  party, 
and  I  hope  it  will  not  be  the  last  time  we  may  meet  at  the 
same  board.  It  is  necessary  everything  should  be  in  fight 
ing-order  to-day  ! " 

"  So  I  understand  it,  Sir  Gervaise.  We  are  ready  to  be 
gin,  as  soon  as  the  order  shall  be  received." 

"  Wait  one  moment,  until  Bunting  comes  up  from  his 
breakfast.  Ah  !  here  he  is,  and  wre  are  quite  ready  for 
him,  having  bent  on  the  signal  in  his  absence.  Show  the 
order,  Bunting  ;  for  the  day  advances." 

The  little  flags  were  fluttering  at  the  main-top-gallant- 
masthead  of  the  Plantagenet  in  less  than  one  minute,  and 
in  another  it  was  repeated  by  the  Chloe,  Driver,  and  Ac 
tive,  all  of  which  were  lying-to,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to 

24 


370  THE  TWO  ADMIRALS. 

windward,  charged  in  particular  with  this,  among  other 
duties.  So  well  was  this  signal  known,  that  not  a  book  in 
the  fleet  was  consulted,  but  all  the  ships  answered,  the  in 
stant  the  flags  could  be  seen  and  understood.  Then  the 
shrill  whistles  were  heard  along  the  line,  calling,  "All 
hands  "  to  "  clear  ship  for  action,  ahoy  ! " 

No  sooner  was  this  order  given  in  the  Plantagenet,  than 
the  ship  became  a  scene  of  active  but  orderly  exertion. 
The  topmen  were  on  the  yards,  stoppering,  swinging  the 
yards  in  chains,  and  lashing,  in  order  to  prevent  shot  from 
doing  more  injury  than  was  unavoidable  :  bulwarks  were 
knocked  down  ;  mess-chests,  bags,  and  all  other  domestic 
appliances,  disappeared  below,*  and  the  decks  were  cleared 
of  everything  which  could  be  removed,  and  which  would 
not  be  necessary  in  an  engagement.  Fully  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  was  thus  occupied,  for  there  was  no  haste,  and  as  it 
\vas  no  moment  of  mere  parade,  it  was  necessary  that  the 
work  should  be  effectually  done.  The  officers  forbade 
haste,  and  nothing  important  was  reported  as  effected,  that 
some  one  in  authority  did  not  examine  it  with  his  own 
eyes,  to  see  that  no  proper  care  had  been  neglected. 

Then  Mr.  Bury,  the  First  Lieutenant,  went  on  the  main- 
yard  in  person,  to  look  at  the  manner  in  which  it  had  been 
slung,  while  he  sent  the  boatswain  up  forward  on  the  same 
errand.  These  were  unusual  precautions,  but  the  word 
had  passed  through  the  ship  "  that  Sir  Jarvey  was  in 
earnest ; "  and  whenever  it  was  known  that  "  Sir  Jarvey  " 
was  in  such  a  humor,  every  one  understood  that  the  day's 
work  was  to  be  hard,  if  not  long. 

"  Our  breakfast  is  ready,  Sir  Jarvey,"  reported  Galleygo, 
"  and  as  the  decks  are  all  clear,  the  b'ys  can  make  a  clean 
run  of  it  for  the  coppers.  I  only  wants  to  know  when  to 
serve  it,  your  honor." 

"  Serve  it  now,  my  good  fellow.  Tell  the  Bowlderos  to 
be  nimble,  and  expect  us  below.  Come,  Greenly — come, 
Wychecombe — we  are  the  last  to  eat ;  let  us  not  be  the  last 
at  our  stations." 

"Ship's  clear,  sir,"  reported  Bury  to  his  Captain  as  the 
three  reached  the  quarter-deck  on  their  way  to  the  cabin. 

*  In  the  action  of  the  Nile,  many  of  the  French  ships,  under  the  impres 
sion  that  the  enemy  must  engage  on  the  outside,  put  their  lumber,  bags, 
etc.,  into  the  ports  and  between  the  guns,  in  the  larboard,  or  inshore  bat 
teries  ;  and  when  the  British  anchored  inshore  of  them,  these  batteries 
could  not  be  used. 


THE    TITO   ADMIRALS.  371 

"Very  well,  Bury;  when  the  fleet  is  signalled  to  go  to 
quarters,  we  will  obey  with  the  rest." 

As  this  was  said,  Greenly  looked  at  the  Vice-admiral  to 
catch  his  wishes.  But  Sir  Gervaise  had  no  intention  of 
fatiguing  his  people  unnecessarily.  He  had  left  his  private 
orders  with  Bunting,  as  he  passed  down  without  an  answer 
or  a  glance.  The  arrangements  in  the  after-cabin  were 
as  snug  and  as  comfortable  as  if  the  breakfast-table  had 
been  set  in  a  private  house,  and  the  trio  took  their  seats 
and  commenced  operations  with  a  hearty  good-will.  The 
Vice-admiral  ordered  the  doors  thrown  open,  and  as  the 
ports-lids  were  up,  from  the  place  where  he  sat  he  could 
command  glimpses  both  to  leeward  and  to  windward,  that 
included  a  view  of  the  enemy,  as  well  as  one  of  his  own 
expected  reinforcements.  The  BowTlderos  were  in  full 
livery,  and  more  active  and  attentive  than  usual  even. 
Their  station  in  battle — for  no  man  on  board  a  vessel  of 
war  is  an  u  idler "  in  the  combat — was  on  the  poop,  as 
musketeers,  near  the  person  of  the  master,  whose  colors 
they  wore,  under  the  ensign  of  the  prince,  like  vassals  of  an 
ancient  baron.  Notwithstanding  the  crisis  of  the  morning, 
however,  these  men  performed  their  customary  functions 
with  the  precision  and  method  of  English  menials,  omitting 
no  luxury  or  usage  of  the  table.  On  a  sofa  behind  the  table 
was  spread  a  full  dress-coat  of  a  Vice-admiral,  then  a  neat 
but  plain  uniform,  without  either  lace  or  epaulets,  but 
decorated  with  a  rich  star  in  brilliants,  the  emblem  of  the 
Order  of  the  Bath.  This  coat  Sir  Gervaise  always  wore 
in  battle,  unless  the  weather  rendered  a  "  storm-uniform," 
as  he  used  to  term  a  plainer  attire,  necessary. 

The  breakfast  passed  off  pleasantly,  the  gentlemen  eat 
ing  as  if  no  momentous  events  \vere  near.  Just  at  its  close, 
however,  Sir  Gervaise  leaned  forward,  and  looking  through 
one  of  the  weather-ports  of  the  main  cabin,  an  expression 
of  pleasure  illuminated  his  countenance  as  he  said  : 

"Ah !  there  goes  Bluewater's  signals,  at  last  ! — a  certain 
proof  that  he  is  about  to  put  himself  in  communication 
with  us." 

"  I  have  been  a  good  deal  surprised,  sir,"  observed 
Greenly,  a  little  dryly,  though  with  great  respect  of  man 
ner,  "  that  you  have  not  ordered  the  Rear-admiral  to  make 
more  sail.  He  is  jogging  along  like  a  heavy  wagon,  and 
yet  I  hardly  think  he  can  mistake  these  five  ships  for 
Frenchmen  !" 


372  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

11  He  is  never  in  a  hurry,  and  no  doubt  wishes  to  let  his 
crews  breakfast  before  he  closes.  I'll  warrant  ye  now, 
gentlemen,  that  his  ships  are  at  this  moment  all  as  clear 
as  a  church  five  minutes  after  the  blessing  has  been  pro 
nounced." 

"  It  will  not  be  one  of  our  Virginian  Churches,  then, 
Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  Wycherly,  smiling  ;  "they  serve 
for  an  exchange,  to  give  and  receive  news  in,  after  the 
service  is  over." 

"Aye,  that's  the  old  rule — pray  first,  and  then  gossip. 
Well,  Bunting,  what  does  the  Rear-admiral  say  ? " 

"  Upon  my  word,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  can  make  nothing  of 
the  signal,  though  it  is  easy  enough  to  make  out  the  flags," 
answrered  the  puzzled  signal-officer.  "Will  you  have  the 
goodness  to  look  at  the  book  yourself,  sir  ?  The  number 
is  one  hundred  and  forty." 

"  One  hundred  and  forty  !  Why,  that  must  have  some- 
tiling  to  do  with  anchoring! — aye,  here  it  is.  'Anchor  I 
cannot,  having  lost  my  cables.'  Who  the  devil  asked  him 
to  anchor  ? " 

"  That's  just  it,  sir.  The  signal-officer  on  board  the 
Caesar  must  have  made  some  mistake  in  his  flags  ;  for, 
though  the  distance  is  considerable,  our  glasses  are  good 
enough  to  read  them." 

"  Perhaps  Admiral  Bluewater  has  set  the  private,  per 
sonal  telegraph  at  work,  sir,"  quietly  observed  Greenly. 

The  Commander-in-chief  actually  changed  color  at  this 
suggestion.  His  face,  at  first,  flushed  to  crimson  ;  then 
it  became  pale,  like  the  countenance  of  one  who  suffered 
under  acute  bodily  pain.  Wycherly  observed  this,  and  re 
spectfully  inquired  if  Sir  Gervaise  were  ill. 

"  I  thank  you,  young  sir,"  answrered  the  Vice-admiral, 
smiling  painfully  ;  "it  is  over.  I  believe  I  shall  have  to 
go  into  dock,  and  let  Mag  rath  look  at  some  of  my  old  hurts, 
which  are  sometimes  troublesome.  Mr.  Bunting,  do  me 
the  favor  to  go  on  deck,  and  ascertain,  by  a  careful  exam 
ination,  if  a  short  red  pennant  be  not  set  some  ten  or  twelve 
feet  above  the  uppermost  flag.  Now,  Greenly,  we  will 
take  the  other  cup  of  tea,  for  there  is  plenty  of  leisure." 

Two  or  three  brooding  minutes  followed.  Then  Bunt 
ing  returned  to  say  the  pennant  was  there,  a  fact  he  had 
quite  overlooked  in  his  former  observations,  confounding 
the  narrow  flag  in  question  with  the  regular  pennant  of 
the  King.  This  short  red  pennant  denoted  that  the  com- 


THE    Tll'O   ADMIRALS.  3-3 

munication  was  verbal,  according  to  a  method  invented  by 
Bluewater  himself,  and  by  means  of  which,  using  the  or 
dinary  numbers,  he  was  enabled  to  communicate  with  his 
friend,  without  any  of  the  captains,  or,  indeed,  without  Sir 
Gervaise's  own  signal-officer  knowing  what  was  said.  In 
a  word,  without  having  recourse  to  any  new  Hags,  but,  by 
simply  giving  new  numbers  to  the  old  ones,  and  referring 
to  a  prepared  dictionary,  it  was  possible  to  hold  a  conver 
sation  in  sentences,  that  should  be  a  secret  to  all  but  them 
selves.  Sir  Gervaise  took  down  the  number  of  the  signal 
that  was  flying,  and  directed  Bunting  to  show  the  answering 
flag,  with  a  similar  pennant  over  it,  and  to  continue  this 
operation  so  long  as  the  Rear-admiral  might  make  his  sig 
nals.  The  numbers  were  to  be  sent  below  as  fast  as  re 
ceived.  As  soon  as  Bunting  disappeared,  the  Vice-admi 
ral  unlocked  a  secretary,  the  key  of  which  was  never  out 
of  his  own  possession,  took  from  it  a  small  dictionary,  and 
laid  it  by  his  plate.  All  this  time  the  breakfast  proceeded, 
signals  of  this  nature  frequently  occurring  between  the 
two  admirals.  In  the  course  of  the  next  ten  minutes,  a 
quartermaster  brought  below  a  succession  of  numbers 
written  on  small  pieces  of  paper  ;  after  which  Bunting  ap 
peared  himself  to  say  that  the  Caesar  had  stopped  signal 
ling. 

Sir  Gervaise  now  looked  out  each  word  by  its  proper 
number,  and  wrote  it  down  with  his  pencil  as  he  proceeded, 
until  the  whole  read — ''God  sake — make  no  signal.  En 
gage  not."  No  sooner  was  the  communication  understood 
than  the  paper  was  torn  into  minute  fragments,  the  book 
replaced,  and  the  Vice-admiral,  turning  with  a  calm,  de 
termined  countenance  to  Greenly,  ordered  him  to  beat  to 
quarters  as  soon  as  Bunting  could  show  a  signal  to  the 
fleet  to  the  same  effect.  On  this  hint,  all  but  the  Vice- 
admiral  went  on  deck,  and  the  Bowlderos  instantly  set 
about  removing  the  table  and  all  the  other  appliances. 
Finding  himself  annoyed  by  the  movements  of  the  servant, 
Sir  Gervaise  walked  out  into  the  great  cabin,  which,  re 
gardless  of  its  present  condition,  he  began  to  pace  as  was  his 
wont  when  lost  in  thought.  The  bulkheads  being  down, 
and  the  furniture  removed,  this  was  in  truth  walking  in 
sight  of  the  crew.  All  who  happened  to  be  on  the  main- 
deck  could  see  what  passed,  though  no  one  presumed  to 
enter  a  spot  that  was  tabooed  to  vulgar  feet,  even  when 
thus  exposed.  The  aspect  and  manner  of  **  Sir  Jarvey," 


374  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

however,  were  not  overlooked,  and  the  men  prognosticated 
a  serious  time. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things,  when  the  drums  beat  to 
quarters,  throughout  the  whole  line.  At  the  first  tap,  the 
great  cabin  sunk  to  the  level  of  an  ordinary  battery  ;  the 
seamen  of  two  guns,  with  the  proper  officers,  entering 
within  the  sacred  limits,  and  coolly  setting  about  clearing 
their  pieces,  and  making  the  other  preparations  necessary 
for  action. 

All  this  time  Sir  Gervaise  continued  pacing  what  would 
have  been  the  centre  of  his  own  cabin  had  the  bulk-heads 
stood,  the  grim-looking  sailors  avoiding  him  with  great 
dexterity,  and  invariably  touching  their  hats  as  they  were 
compelled  to  glide  near  his  person,  though  everything 
went  on  as  if  he  were  not  present.  Sir  Gervaise  might 
have  remained  lost  in  thought  much  longer  than  he  did, 
had  not  the  report  of  a  gun  recalled  him  to  a  conscious 
ness  of  the  scene  that  was  enacting  around  him. 

"  What's  that  ?  "  suddenly  demanded  the  Vice-admiral  ; 
"  is  Bluewater  signaling  again  ?" 

"No,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  the  fourth  lieutenant, 
looking  out  of  a  lee  port  ;  "  it  is  the  French  admiral  giving 
us  another  weather-gun  ;  as  much  as  to  ask  why  we  don't 
go  down.  This  is  the  second  compliment  of  the  same  sort 
that  he  has  paid  us  already  to-day  ! " 

These  words  were  not  all  spoken  before  the  Vice-admi 
ral  was  on  the  quarter-deck  ;  in  half  a  minute  more,  he 
was  on  the  poop.  Here  he  found  Greenly,  Wychecombe, 
and  Bunting,  all  looking  with  interest  at  the  beautiful  line 
of  the  enemy. 

"Monsieur  de  Vervillin  is  impatient  to  wipe  off  the  dis 
grace  of  yesterday,"  observed  the  first,  "as  is  apparent  by 
the  invitations  he  gives  us  to  come  down.  I  presume  Ad 
miral  Bluewater  will  wake  up  at  this  last  hint." 

"  By  Heaven,  he  has  hauled  his  wind,  and  is  standing  to 
the  northward  and  eastward  !  "  exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise, 
surprise  overcoming  all  his  discretion.  "Although  an  ex 
traordinary  movement,  at  such  a  time,  it  is  wonderful  in 
what  beautiful  order  Bluewater  keeps  his  ships  !  " 

All  that  was  said  was  true  enough.  The  Rear-admiral's 
division  having  suddenly  hauled  up,  in  a  close  line  ahead, 
each  ship  followed  her  leader  as  mechanically  as  if  they 
moved  by  a  common  impulse.  As  no  one  in  the  least 
doubted  the  Rear-admiral's  loyalty,  and  his  courage  was 


THE   TWO   ADMIRALS.  375 

of  proof,  it  was  the  general  opinion  that  this  unusual 
manoeuvre  had  some  connection  with  the  unintelligible 
signals,  and  the  young  officers  laughingly  inquired  among 
themselves  what  "  Sir  Jarvey  was  likely  to  do  next  ?" 

It  would  seem,  however,  that  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  sus 
pected  a  repetition  of  some  of  the  scenes  of  the  preceding 
*  day ;  for,  no  sooner  did  he  perceive  that  the  English  rear 
was  hugging  the  wind,  than  five  of  his  leading  ships  filled, 
and  drew  ahead,  as  if  to  meet  that  division,  manoeuvring 
to  double  on  the  head  of  his  line  ;  while  the  remaining 
five,  with  the  Foudroyant,  still  lay  with  their  topsails  to 
the  mast,  waiting  for  their  enemy  to  come  down.  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  could  not  stand  this  long.  He  determined,  if  possi 
ble,  to  bring  Bluewater  to  terms,  and  he  ordered  the  Plan- 
tagenet  to  fill.  Followed  by  his  own  division,  he  wore 
immediately,  and  went  off  under  easy  sail,  quartering, 
toward  Monsieur  de  Vervillin's  rear,  to  avoid  being 
raked. 

The  quarter  of  an  hour  that  succeeded  was  one  of  in 
tense  interest  and  of  material  changes,  though  not  a  shot 
was  fired.  As  soon  as  the  Comte  de  Vervillin  perceived 
that  the  English  were  disposed  to  come  nearer,  he  sig 
naled  his  own  division  to  bear  up,  and  to  run  off  dead  be 
fore  the  wind,  under  their  topsails,  commencing  astern  ; 
which  reversed  his  order  of  sailing,  and  brought  Le  Fou 
droyant  in  the  rear,  or  nearest  to  the  enemy.  This  was  no 
sooner  done,  than  he  settled  all  his  topsails  on  the  caps. 
There  could  be  no  mistaking  thfs  manoeuvre.  It  was  a  di 
rect  invitation  to  Sir  Gervaise  to  come  down,  fairly  along 
side  ;  the  bearing  up  at  once  removing  all  risk  of  being- 
raked  in  so  doing.  The  English  Commander-in-chief  was 
not  a  man  to  neglect  such  a  palpable  challenge  ;  but, 
making  a  few  signals  to  direct  the  mode  of  attack  he  con 
templated,  he  set  foresail  and  main-topgallant  sail,  and 
brought  the  wind  directly  over  his  own  taffrail.  The 
vessels  astern  followed  like  clock-work,  and  no  one  now 
doubted  that  the  mode  of  attack  was  settled  for  that  day. 

As  the  French,  with  Monsieur  de  Vervillin,  were  still 
half  a  mile  to  the  southward  and  eastward  of  the  approach 
ing  division  of  their  enemy,  the  Comte  collected  all  his 
frigates  and  corvettes  on  his  starboard  hand,  leaving  a  clear 
approach  to  Sir  Gervaise  on  his  larboard  beam.  This 
hint  was  understood,  too,  and  the  Plantagenet  steered  a 
course  that  would  bring  her  up  on  that  side  of  Le  Fou- 


376  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

droyant,  and  at  the  distance  of  about  one  hundred  yards 
from  the  muzzles  of  her  guns. 

This  threatened  to  be  close  work,  and  unusual  work  in 
fleets,  at  that  day  ;  but  it  was  the  game  our  Commander- 
in-chief  was  fond  of  playing,  and  it  was  one,  also,  that 
promised  soonest  to  bring  matters  to  a  result. 

These  preliminaries  arranged,  there  was  yet  leisure  for 
the  respective  commanders  to  look  about  them.  The 
French  were  still  fully  a  mile  ahead  of  their  enemies,  and 
as  both  fleets  were  going  in  the  same  direction,  the  ap 
proach  of  the  English  was  so  slow  as  to  leave  some  twenty 
minutes  of  that  solemn  breathing-time  which  reigns  in  a 
disciplined  ship  previous  to  the  commencement  of  the 
combat.  The  feelings  of  the  two  commanders-in-chief  at 
this  pregnant  instant  were  singularly  in  contradiction  to 
each  other.  The  Comte  de  Vervillin  saw  that  the  rear 
division  of  his  force,  under  the  Comte-Amiral  le  Vicomte 
des  Prez,  was  in  the  very  position  he  desired  it  to  be,  hav 
ing  obtained  the  advantage  of  the  wind  by  the  English 
division  coming  down,  and  by  keeping  its  own  luff.  Be 
tween  the  two  French  officers  there  was  a  perfect  under 
standing  as  to  the  course  each  was  to  take,  and  both 
now  felt  sanguine  hopes  of  being  able  to  obliterate  the 
disgrace  of  the  previous  day,  and  that,  too,  by  means  very 
similar  to  those  by  which  it  had  been  incurred.  On  the 
other  hand,  Sir  Gervaise  was  beset  with  doubts  as  to  the 
course  Bluewater  might  pursue.  He  could  not,  however, 
come  to  the  conclusion  th&t  he  would  abandon  him  to  the 
joint  efforts  of  the  two  hostile  divisions  ;  and  so  long  as 
the  French  Rear-admiral  was  occupied  by  the  English 
force  to  windward,  it  left  to  himself  a  clear  field  and  no 
favor  in  the  action  with  Monsieur  de  Vervillin.  He  knew 
Bluewater's  generous  nature  too  well  not  to  feel  certain 
his  own  compliance  with  the  request  not  to  signal  his  in 
ferior  would  touch  his  heart,  and  give  him  a  double  chance 
with  all  his  better  feelings.  Nevertheless,  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes  did  not  lead  into  this  action  without  many  and  pain 
ful  misgivings.  He  had  lived  too  long  in  the  world  not  to 
know  that  political  prejudice  wTas  the  most  demoralizing 
of  all  our  weaknesses,  veiling  our  private  vices  under  the 
plausible  concealment  of  the  public  weal,  and  rendering 
even  the  well-disposed  insensible  to  the  wrongs  they  com 
mit  to  individuals,  by  means  of  the  deceptive  flattery  of 
serving  the  community.  As  doubt  was  more  painful  than 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  377 

the  certainty  of  his  worst  forebodings,  however,  and  it  was 
not  in  his  nature  to  refuse  a  combat  so  fairly  offered,  he 
was  resolved  to  close  with  the  Comte  at  every  hazard, 
trusting  the  issue  to  God,  and  his  own  efforts. 

The  Plantagenet  presented  an  eloquent  picture  of  order 
and  preparation,  as  she  drew  near  the  French  line,  on  this 
memorable  occasion.  Her  people  were  all  at  quarters,  and, 
as  Greenly  walked  through  her  batteries,  he  found  every 
gun  on  the  starboard  side  loose,  levelled,  and  ready  to  be 
fired  ;  while  the  opposite  merely  required  a  turn  or  two  of 
the  tackles  to  be  cast  loose,  the  priming  to  be  applied,  and 
the  loggerhead  to  follow,  in  order  to  be  discharged,  also. 
A  death-like  stillness  reigned  from  the  poop  to  the  cock 
pit,  the  older  seamen  occasionally  glancing  through  their 
ports  in  order  to  ascertain  the  relative  positions  of  the  two 
fleets,  that  they  might  be  ready  for  the  collision.  As  the 
English  got  within  musket-shot,  the  French  ran  their  top 
sails  to  the  mastheads,  and  their  ships  gathered  fresher  way 
through  the  water.  Still  the  former  moved  with  the  great 
est  velocity,  carrying  the  most  sail,  and  impelled  by  the 
greater  momentum.  When  near  enough,  however,  Sir 
Gervaise  gave  the  order  to  reduce  the  canvas  of  his  own 
ship.  The  order  was  obeyed  with  machine-like  prompti 
tude,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  Admiral  turned  again  to 
the  Captain. 

"  That  will  do,  Greenly,"  he  said,  in  a  mild,  quiet  tone. 
"  Let  run  the  topgallant-halyards,  and  haul  up  the  foresail. 
The  way  you  have,  will  bring  you  fairly  alongside." 

The  Captain  gave  the  necessary  orders,  and  the  master 
shortened  sail  accordingly.  Still  the  Plantagenet  shot 
ahead,  and,  in  three  or  four  minutes  more,  her  bows 
doubled  so  far  on  Le  Foudroyant's  quarter,  as  to  permit  a 
gun  to  bear.  This  was  the  signal  for  both  sides,  each  ship 
opening  at  it  might  be  in  the  same  breath.  The  flash,  the 
roar,  and  the  eddying  smoke  followed  in  quick  succession, 
and  in  a  period  of  time  that  seemed  nearly  instantaneous. 
The  crash  of  shot,  and  the  shrieks  of  wounded  mingled 
with  the  infernal  din,  for  nature  extorts  painful  conces 
sions  of  human  weakness,  at  such  moments,  and  from  the 
bravest  and  firmest. 

Bunting  was  in  the  act  of  reporting  to  Sir  Gervaise  that 
no  signal  could  be  seen  from  the  Caesar,  in  the  midst 
of  this  uproar,  when  a  small  round-shot  discharged  from 
the  Frenchman's  poop,  passed  through  his  body,  literally 


378  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

driving  the  heart  before  it,  leaving  him  dead  at  his  com. 
mander's  feet. 

"  I  shall  depend  on  you,  Sir  Wycherly,  for  the  discharge 
of  poor  Bunting's  duty,  the  remainder  of  the  cruise," 
observed  Sir  Gervaise,  with  a  smile  in  which  courtesy  and 
regret  struggled  singularly  for  the  mastery.  "Quarter 
masters,  lay  Mr.  Bunting's  body  a  little  out  of  the  way,  and 
cover  it  with  those  signals.  They  are  a  suitable  pall  for  so 
brave  a  man  !  " 

Just  as  this  occurred,  the  Warspite  came  clear  of  the 
Plantagenet,  on  her  outside,  according  to  orders,  and  she 
opened  with  her  forward  guns,  taking  the  second  ship  in 
the  French  line  for  her  target.  In  two  minutes  more  these 
vessels  also  were  furiously  engaged  in  the  hot  strife.  In 
this  manner,  ship  after  ship  passed  on  the  outside  of  the 
Plantagenet,  and  sheered  into  her  berth  ahead  of  her  who 
had  just  been  her  own  leader,  until  the  Achilles,  Lord 
Morganic,  the  last  of  the  five,  lay  fairly  side  by  side  with 
Le  Conquereur,  the  vessel  now  at  the  head  of  the  French 
line.  That  the  reader  may  understand  the  incidents  more 
readily,  we  will  give  the  opposing  line  in  the  precise  form 
in  which  they  lay,  namely  : 

Plantagenet,  Le  Foudroyant, 

Warspite,  Le  Temeraire, 

Blenheim,  Le  Dugay  Trouin, 

Thunderer,  L'Ajax, 

Achilles,  Le  Conquereur. 

The  constantly  recurring  discharges  of  four  hundred 
pieces  of  heavy  ordnance,  within  a  space  so  small,  had  the 
effect  to  repel  the  regular  currents  of  air,  and,  almost  im 
mediately,  to  lessen  a  breeze  of  six  or  seven  knots,  to  one 
that  would  not  propel  a  ship  more  than  two  or  three.  This 
was  the  first  observable  phenomenon  connected  with  the 
action,  but,  as  it  had  been  expected,  Sir  Gervaise  had  used 
the  precaution  to  lay  his  ships  as  near  as  possible  in  the 
positions  in  which  he  intended  them  to  fight  the  battle. 
The  next  great  physical  consequence,  one  equally  expected 
and  natural,  but  which  wrought  a  great  change  in  the 
aspect  of  the  battle,  was  the  cloud  of  smoke  in  which  the 
ten  ships  were  suddenly  enveloped.  At  the  first  broadside 
between  the  two  Admirals,  volumes  of  light,  fleecy  vapor 
rolled  over  the  sea,  meeting  midway,  and,  rising  thence  in 
curling  wreaths,  left  nothing  but  the  masts  and  sails  of  the 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  379 

adversary  visible  in  the  hostile  ship.  This,  of  itself,  would 
have  soon  hidden  the  combatants  in  the  bosom  of  a  nearly 
impenetrable  cloud  ;  but  as  vessels  drove  onward  they 
entered  deeper  beneath  the  sulphurous  canopy,  until  it 
spread  on  each  side  of  them,  shutting  out  the  view  of 
ocean,  skies,  and  horizon.  The  burning  of  the  priming 
below  contributed  to  increase  the  smoke,  until,  not  only 
was  respiration  difficult,  but  those  who  fought  only  a  few 
yards  apart  frequently  could  not  recognize  each  other's 
faces.  In  the  midst  of  this  scene  of  obscurity,  and  a  din 
that  might  well  have  alarmed  the  caverns  of  the  ocean,  the 
earnest  and  well-drilled  seamen  toiled  at  their  ponderous 
guns,  and  remedied  with  ready  hands  the  injuries  received 
in  the  rigging,  each  man  as  intent  on  his  own  particular 
duty  as  if  he  wrought  in  the  occupations  of  an  ordinary 
gale. 

"  Sir  Wycherly,"  observed  the  Vice-admiral,  when  the 
cannonading  had  continued  some  twenty  minutes,  "  there 
is  little  for  a  flag-officer  to  do  in  such  a  cloud  of  smoke.  I 
would  give  much  to  know  the  exact  position  of  the  divis 
ions  of  our  two  Rear-admirals." 

"There  is  but  one  mode  of  ascertaining  that,  Sir  Ger- 
vaise — if  it  be  your  pleasure,  I  will  attempt  it.  By  going 
on  the  main-topgallant-yard,  one  might  get  a  clear  view, 
perhaps." 

Sir  Gervaise  smiled  his  approbation,  and  presently  saw 
the  young  man  ascending  the  main-rigging,  though  half 
concealed  in  smoke.  Just  at  this  instant  Greenly  ascended 
to  the  poop,  from  making  a  tour  of  observation  from 
below.  Without  waiting  for  a  question,  the  Captain  made 
his  report. 

"  We  are  doing  pretty  well,  now,  Sir  Gervaise,  though 
the  first  broadside  of  the  Comte  treated  us  roughly.  I 
think  his  fire  slackens,  and  Burv  says  he  is  certain  that  his 
foretopmast  is  already  gone.  At  all  events,  our  lads  are  in 
good  spirits,  and  yet  all  the  sticks  keep  their  places." 

"I'm  glad  of  this,  Greenly;  particularly  of  the  ladder, 
just  at  this  moment.  I  see  you  are  looking  at  those  signals 
— they  cover  the  body  of  poor  Bunting." 

"  And  this  train  of  blood  to  the  ladder,  sir — I  hope  our 
young  baronet  is  not  hurt  ?  " 

"  No,  it  is  one  of  the  Bowlderos,  who  has  lost  a  leg.  I 
shall  have  to  see  that  he  wants  for  nothing  hereafter." 

There  was  a  pause  ;  then  both  the  gentlemen  smiled,  as 


380  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

they  heard  the  crashing  work  made  by  a  shot  just  beneath 
them,  which,  by  the  sounds  and  the  direction,  they  knew 
had  passed  through  Greenly's  crockery.  Still  neither 
spoke.  After  a  few  more  minutes  of  silent  observation, 
Sir  Gervaise  remarked  that  he  thought  the  flashes  of  the 
French  guns  more  distant  than  they  had  been  at  first, 
though,  at  that  instant,  not  a  trace  of  their  enemy  was  to 
be  discovered,  except  in  the  roar  of  the  guns,  and  in  these 
very  flashes,  and  their  effect  on  the  Plantagenet 

<;  If  so,  sir,  the  Comte  begins  to  find  his  berth  too  hot  for 
him  ;  here  is  the  wind  still  directly  over  our  taffrail,  such 
as  it  is." 

"  No,  no,  we  steer  as  we  began  ;  I  keep  my  eye  on  that 
compass  below,  and  am  certain  we  hold  a  straight  course. 
Go  forward,  Greenly,  and  see  that  a  sharp  lookout  is  kept 
ahead.  It  is  time  some  of  our  own  ships  should  be  crippled  ; 
we  must  be  careful  not  to  run  into  them.  Should  such  a 
thing  happen,  sheer  hard  to  starboard,  and  pass  inside." 

"  Aye,  aye,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  your  wishes  shall  be  attended 
to." 

As  this  was  said,  Greenly  disappeared,  and,  at  the  next 
instant,  Wycherly  stood  in  his  place. 

"Well,  sir,  I  am  glad  to  see  you  back  safe.  If  Greenly 
were  here  now,  he  would  inquire  about  his  masts,  but  I 
wish  to  know  the  position  of  the  ships." 

"  I  am  the  bearer  of  bad  news,  sir.  Nothing  at  all  could 
be  seen  from  the  top  ;  but  in  the  cross-trees,  I  got  a  good 
look  through  the  smoke,  and  am  sorry  to  say  the  French 
Rear  admiral  is  coming  down  fast  on  our  larboard-quarter, 
with  all  his  force.  We  shall  have  him  abeam  in  five 
minutes." 

''And  Bluewater  ?  "  demanded  Sir  Gervaise,  quick  as 
lightning. 

"I  could  see  nothing  of  Admiral  Bluewater's  ships;  but 
knowing  the  importance  of  this  intelligence,  I  came  down 
immediately,  and  by  the  back-stay." 

"You  have  done  well,  sir.  Send  a  midshipman  forward 
for  Captain  Greenly;  then  pass  below  yourself,  and  let  the 
lieutenants  in  the  batteries  hear  the  news.  They  must 
divide  their  people,  and  by  all  means  give  a  prompt  and 
well-directed  first  broadside." 

Wycherly  waited  for  no  more.  He  ran  below  with  the 
activity  of  his  years.  The  message  found  Greenly  between 
the  knight-heads,  but  he  hurried  aft  to  the  poop  to  ascer- 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  381 

tain  its  object.  It  took  Sir  Gervaise  but  a  moment  to  ex 
plain  it  all  to  the  captain. 

"In  the  name  of  Heaven,  what  can  the  other  division 
be  about,"  exclaimed  Greenly,  "that  it  lets  the  French 
Rear-admiral  come  upon  us,  in  a  moment  like  this !  " 

"  Of  that,  sir,  it  is  unnecessary  to  speak  now,"  answered 
the  Commander-in-chief,  solemnly.  "  Our  present  busi 
ness  is  to  get  ready  for  this  new  enemy.  Go  into  the 
batteries  again,  and,  as  you  prize  victory,  be  careful  not 
to  throw  away  the  first  discharge,  in  the  smoke." 

As  time  pressed,  Greenly  swallowed  his  discontent,  and 
departed.  The  five  minutes  that  succeeded  were  bitter 
minutes  to  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes.  Besides  himself  there  were 
but  five  men  on  the  poop,  namely,  the  quartermaster  who 
tended  the  signals,  and  three  of  the  Bowlderos.  All  of 
these  were  using  muskets  as  usual,  though  the  Vice-admiral 
never  permitted  marines  to  be  stationed  at  a  point  which 
he  wished  to  be  as  clear  of  smoke,  and  as  much  removed 
from  bustle,  as  possible.  He  began  to  pace  this  compara 
tively  vacant  little  deck  with  a  quick  step,  casting  wistful 
glances  toward  the  larboard-quarter  ;  but  though  the 
smoke  occasionally  cleared  a  little  in  that  direction,  the 
firing  having  much  slackened  from  exhaustion  in  the  men, 
as  well  as  from  injuries  given  and  received,  he  was  unable 
to  detect  any  signs  of  a  ship. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things  when  Wycherly  returned 
and  reported  that  his  orders  were  delivered,  and  part  of  the 
people  were  already  in  the  larboard-batteries. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

And  oh,  the  little  warlike  world  within  ! 

The  well-reeved  guns,  the  netted  canopy, 
The  hoarse  command,  the  busy  humming  din, 

When  at  a  word,  the  tops  are  manned  on  high  : 

Hark  to  the  boatswain's  call,  the  cheering  cry  ! 
While  through  the  seaman's  hand  the  tackle  glides, 

Or  school-boy  midshipman,  that,  standing  by, 
Strains  his  shrill  pipe,  as  good  or  ill  betides, 

And  well  the  docile  crew  that  skilful  urchin  guides. — BYRON. 

"ARE  you  quite  sure,  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  that 
there  is  not  some  mistake  about  the  approach  of  the  rear 
division  of  the  French  ?  "  inquired  the  Vice-admiral,  en 
deavoring  to  catch  some  glimpse  of  the  water,  through 


382  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

the  smoke  on  the  larboard  hand.  "  May  not  some  crippled 
ship  of  our  own  have  sheered  from  the  line,  and  been  left 
by  us,  unknowingly,  on  that  side  ? " 

"  No,  Sir  Gervaise,  there  is  no  mistake  ;  there  can  be 
none,  unless  I  may  have  been  deceived  a  little  in  the  dis 
tance.  I  saw  nothing  but  the  sails  and  spars,  not  of  a 
single  vessel,  but  three  ships  ;  and  one  of  them  wore  the 
ilag  of  a  French  Rear-admiral  at  the  mizzen.  As  a  proof 
that  I  was  not  mistaken,  sir,  there  it  is  this  minute  ! " 

The  smoke  on  the  off  side  of  the  Plantagenet,  as  a  mat 
ter  of  course,  was  much  less  dense  than  that  on  the  side 
engaged,  and  the  wind  beginning  to  blow  in  eddies,  as  ever 
happens  in  a  heavy  cannonade,  there  were  moments  in 
which  he  cast  aside  the  "  shroud  of  battle."  At  that  in 
stant  an  opening  occurred  through  which  a  single  mast 
and  a  single  sail  were  visible,  in  the  precise  spot  where 
Wycherly  had  stated  the  enemy  might  be  looked  for.  It 
was  a  mizzen-topsail,  beyond  a  question,  and  above  it  was 
fluttering  the  little  square  flag  of  the  Rear-admiral. 

Sir  Gervaise  decided  on  the  character  of  the  vessel,  and 
on  his  own  course,  in  an  instant.  Stepping  to  the  edge  of 
the  poop,  with  his  natural  voice,  without  the  aid  of  a 
trumpet  of  any  sort,  he  called  out  in  tones  that  rose  above 
the  roar  of  the  contest,  the  ominous  but  familiar  nautical 
words  of  "  Stand  by  !  "  Perhaps  a  call  from  powerful  lungs 
(and  the  Vice-admiral's  voice,  when  he  chose  to  use  it,  was 
like  the  blast  of  a  clarion)  is  clearer  and  more  impressive, 
when  unaided  by  instruments,  than  when  it  comes  dis 
guised  and  unnatural  through  a  tube.  At  any  rate,  these 
words  were  heard  even  on  the  lower  deck,  by  those  who 
stood  near  the  hatches.  Taking  them  up,  they  were  re 
peated  by  a  dozen  voices,  with  such  expressions  as  "  Look 
out,  lads;  Sir  Jarvey's  awake  !"  "Sight  your  guns!"  "Wait 
till  she's  square  !"  and  other  similar  admonitions  that  it  is 
usual  for  the  sea-officer  to  give,  as  he  is  about  to  com 
mence  the  strife.  At  this  critical  moment,  Sir  Gervaise 
again  looked  up,  and  caught  another  glimpse  of  the  little 
flag  as  it  passed  into  a  vast  wreath  of  smoke  ;  lie  saw  that 
the  ship  was  fairly  abeam,  and,  as  if  doubling  all  hispowTers, 
he  shouted  the  word  "  Fire  ! "  Greenly  was  standing  on 
the  lower-deck  ladder,  with  his  head  just  even  with  the 
coamings  of  the  hatch,  as  this  order  reached  him,  and  he 
repeated  it  in  a  voice  scarcely  less  startling.  The  cloud  on 
the  larboard  side  was  driven  in  all  directions,  like  dust 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  383 

scattered  by  wind.  The  ship  seemed  on  fire,  and  the 
missiles  of  forty-one  guns  flew  on  their  deadly  errand,  as 
it  might  be  at  asingle  flash.  The  old  Plantagenet  trembled 
to  her  keel,  and  even  bowed  a  little  at  the  recoil^,  but,  like 
one  suddenly  relieved  from  a  burden,  righted  and  went  on 
her  way  none  the  less  active.  That  timely  broadside  saved 
the  English  Commander-in-chief's  ship  from  an  early  de 
feat.  It  took  the  crew  of  Le  Pluton,  her  new  adversary, 
by  surprise  ;  for  they  had  not  been  able  to  distinguish  the 
precise  position  of  their  enemy  ;  and,  besides  doing  vast 
injury  to  both  hull  and  people,  drew  her  fire  at  an  unpro- 
pitious  moment.  So  uncertain  and  hasty,  indeed,  was  the 
discharge  the  French  ship  gave  in  return,  that  no  small 
portion  of  the  contents  of  her  guns  passed  ahead  of  the 
Plantagenet,  and  went  into  the  larboard  quarter  of  Le 
Temeraire,  the  French  Admiral's  second  ahead. 

"That  was  a  timely  salute,"  Sir  Gervaise,  smiling  as 
soon  as  the  fire  of  his  new  enemy  had  been  received  with 
out  material  injury.  "  The  first  blow  is  always  half  the 
battle.  We  may  now  work  on  with  some  hopes  of  suc 
cess.  Ah  !  here  comes  Greenly  again,  God  be  praised  ! 
unhurt  ! " 

The  meeting  of  these  two  experienced  seamen  was  cor 
dial,  but  not  without  great  seriousness.  Both  felt  that  the 
situation  of  not  only  the  ship,  but  of  the  whole  fleet,  was 
extremely  critical,  the  odds  being  much  too  great,  and  the 
position  of  the  enemy  too  favorable,  not  to  render  the  re 
sult,  to  say  the  least,  exceedingly  doubtful.  Some  advan 
tage  had  certainly  been  obtained,  thus  far  ;  but  there  was 
little  hope  of  preserving  it  long.  The  circumstances  called 
for  very  decided  and  particularly  bold  measures. 

"  My  mind  is  made  up,  Greenly,"  observed  the  Vice- 
admiral.  "We  must  go  aboard  of  one  of  these  ships,  make 
it  a  hand-to-hand  affair.  We  will  take  the  French  Com 
mander-in-chief  ;  he  is  evidently  a  good  deal  cut  up,  by  the 
manner  in  which  his  fire  slackens,  and  if  we  can  carry 
him,  or  even  force  him  out  of  the  line,  it  will  give  us  a 
better  chance  with  the  rest.  As  for  Bluewater,  God  only 
knows  what  has  become  of  him  !  He  is  not  here  at  any 
rate,  and  we  must  help  ourselves." 

"  You  have  only  to  order,  Sir  Gervaise,  to  be  obeyed.  I 
will  lead  the  boarders  myself." 

"  It  must  be  a  general  thing,  Greenly  ;  I  rather  think  we 
shall  all  of  us  go  aboard  of  Le  Foudroyant.  Go,  give  the 


384  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

necessary  orders,  and  when  everything  is  ready,  round  in 
a  little  on  the  larboard  braces,  clap  your  helm  a-port,  and 
give  the  ship  a  rank  sheer  to  starboard.  This  will  bring 
matters  to  a  crisis,  at  once.  By  letting  the  foresail  fall, 
and  setting  the  spanker,  you  might  shove  the  ship  ahead  a 
little  faster." 

Greenly  instantly  left  the  poop  on  this  new  and  impor 
tant  duty.  He  sent  his  orders  into  the  batteries,  bidding 
the  people  remain  at  their  guns,  however,  to  the  last  mo 
ment  ;  and  particularly  instructing  the  captain  of  marines 
as  to  the  manner  in  which  he  was  to  cover,  and  then  fol 
low  the  boarding  party.  This  done,  he  gave  orders  to 
brace  forward  the  yards,  as  directed  by  Sir  Gervaise. 

The  reader  will  not  overlook  the  material  circumstance 
that  all  we  have  related  occurred  amid  the  din  of  battle. 
Guns  were  exploding  at  each  instant,  the  cloud  of  smoke 
was  both  thickening  and  extending,  fire  was  flashing  in 
the  semi-obscurity  of  its  volumes,  shot  were  rending  the 
wood  and  cutting  the  rigging,  and  the  piercing  shrieks  of 
agony,  only  so  much  the  more  appalling  by  being  extorted 
from  the  stern  and  resolute,  blended  their  thrilling  accom 
paniments.  Men  seemed  to  be  converted  into  demons, 
and  yet  there  was  a  lofty  and  stubborn  resolution  to  con 
quer  mingled  with  all,  that  ennobled  the  strife  and  ren 
dered  it  heroic.  The  broadsides  that  were  delivered  in 
succession  down  the  line,  as  ship  after  ship  of  the  rear 
division  reached  her  station,  however,  proclaimed  that 
Monsieur  des  Prez  had  imitated  Sir  Gervaise's  mode  of 
closing,  the  only  one  by  means  of  which  the  leading  ves 
sel  could  escape  destruction,  and  that  the  English  were 
completely  doubled  on.  At  this  moment,  the  sail  trimmers 
of  the  Plantagenet  handled  their  braces.  The  first  pull 
was  the  last.  No  sooner  were  the  ropes  started  than  the 
fore-topmast  went  over  the  bows,  dragging  after  it  the 
main,  with  all  its  hamper,  the  mizzen  snapping  like  a  pipe- 
stem  at  the  cap.  By  this  cruel  accident,  the  result  of 
many  injuries  to  shrouds,  back  stays,  and  spars,  the  situa 
tion  of  the  Plantagenet  became  worse  than  ever  ;  for  not 
only  was  the  wreck  to  be  partially  cleared,  at  least,  to 
fight  many  of  the  larboard  guns,  but  the  command  of  the 
ship  was,  in  a  great  measure,  lost,  in  the  centre  of  one  of 
the  most  infernal  mi-Ices  that  ever  accompanied  a  combat 
at  sea. 

At  no  time  does  the  trained  seaman  ever  appear  so  great 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  385 

as  when  he  meets  sudden  misfortunes  with  the  steadiness 
and  quiet  which  it  is  a  material  part  of  the  morale  of  disci 
pline  to  inculcate.  Greenly  was  full  of  ardor  for  the  as 
sault,  and  was  thinking  of  the  best  mode  of  running  foul 
of  his  adversary,  when  this  calamity  occurred  ;  but  the 
masts  were  hardly  down,  when  he  changed  all  his  thoughts 
to  a  new  current,  and  called  out  to  the  sail-trimmers  to 
"  Lay  over,  and  clear  the  wreck." 

Sir  Gervaise,  too,  met  with  a  sudden  and  violent  check 
to  the  current  of  his  feelings.  He  had  collected  his  Bowld- 
eros,  and  was  giving  his  instructions  as  to  the  manner  in 
which  they  were  to  follow,  and  keep  near  his  person,  in 
the  expected  hand-to-hand  encounter,  when  the  heavy 
rushing  of  the  air,  and  the  swoop  of  the  mass  from  above, 
announced  what  had  occurred.  Turning  to  the  men  he 
calmly  ordered  them  to  aid  in  getting  rid  of  the  incum- 
brances,  and  was  in  the  very  act  of  directing  Wycherly  to 
join  in  the  same  duty  when  the  latter  exclaimed  : 

"See,  Sir  Gervaise,  here  comes  another  of  the  French 
men  close  upon  our  quarter.  By  heavens,  they  must 
mean  to  board  !  " 

The  Vice-admiral  instinctively  grasped  his  sword-hilt 
tighter,  and  turned  in  the  direction  mentioned  by  his  com 
panion.  There,  indeed,  came  a  fresh  ship,  shoving  the 
cloud  aside,  and  by  the  clearer  atmosphere  that  seemed  to 
accompany  her,  apparently  bringing  down  a  current  of  air 
stronger  than  common.  When  first  seen  the  jib-boom  and 
bowsprit  were  both  enveloped  in  smoke,  but  his  bellying 
fore-topsail,  and  the  canvas  hanging  in  festoons,  loomed 
grandly  in  the  vapors,  the  black  yards  seeming  to  embrace 
the  wreaths,  merely  to  cast  them  aside.  The  proximity, 
too,  was  fearful,  her  yard-arms  promising  to  clear  those  of 
the  Plantagenet  only  by  a  few  feet,  as  her  dark  bows 
brushed  along  the  Admiral's  side. 

"This will  be  fearful  work  indeed!"  exclaimed  Sir  Ger 
vaise.  "A  fresh  broadside  from  a  ship  so  near  will  sweep 
all  from  the  spars.  Go,  Wychecombe,  tell  Greenly  to  call 
in — Hold  !  'Tis  an  English  ship  !  No  Frenchman's  bow 
sprit  stands  like  that  !  Almighty  God  be  praised  !  'Tis 
the  Caesar  !  there  is  the  old  Roman's  figure-head  just 
shoving  out  of  the  smoke  !  " 

This  was  said  with  a  yell,  rather  than  a  cry  of  delight, 
and  in  a  voice  so  loud  that  the  words  were  heard  below, 
and  flew  through  the  ship  like  the  hissing  of  an  ascending 

25 


386  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

rocket.  To  confirm  the  glorious  tidings,  the  flash  and 
roar  of  guns  on  the  offside  of  the  stranger  announced  the 
welcome  tidings  that  Le  Pluton  had  an  enemy  of  her  own 
to  contend  with,  thus  enabling  the  Plantagenet's  people  to 
throw  all  their  strength  on  the  starboard  guns,  and  pursue 
their  other  necessary  work  without  further  molestation 
from  the  French  Rear-admiral. 

The  gratitude  of  Sir  Gervaise,  as  the  rescuing  ship  thrust 
herself  in  between  him  and  his  most  formidable  assailant 
was  too  deep  for  language.  He  placed  his  hat  mechani 
cally  before  his  face,  and  thanked  God,  with  a  fervor  of 
spirit  that  never  before  had  attended  his  thanksgivings. 
This  brief  act  of  devotion  over,  he  found  the  bows  of  the 
Caesar,  which  ship  was  advancing  very  slowly,  in  order 
not  to  pass  too  far  ahead,  just  abreast  of  the  spot  where  he 
stood,  and  so  near  that  objects  were  pretty  plainly  visible. 
Between  her  knight-heads  stood  Bluewater,  conning  the 
ship  by  means  of  a  line  of  officers,  his  hat  in  his  hand, 
waving  in  encouragement  to  his  own  people,  while  Geoff 
rey  Cleveland  held  the  trumpet  at  his  elbow.  At  that  mo 
ment  three  noble  cheers  were  given  by  the  crews  of  the 
two  friendly  vessels,  and  mingled  with  the  increasing  roar 
of  the  Caesar's  artillery.  Then  the  smoke  rose  in  a  cloud 
over  the  forecastle  of  the  latter  ship,  and  persons  could  no 
longer  be  distinguished. 

Nevertheless,  like  all  that  thus  approached,  the  reliev 
ing  ship  passed  slowly  ahead,  until  nearly  her  whole 
length  protected  the  undefended  side  of  her  consort,  de 
livering  her  fire  with  fearful  rapidity.  The  Plantagenets 
seemed  to  imbibe  new  life  from  this  arrival,  and  their  star 
board  guns  spoke  out  again,  as  if  manned  by  giants.  It 
was  five  minutes,  perhaps,  after  this  seasonable  arrival, 
before  the  guns  of  the  other  ships  of  the  English  rear 
announced  their  presence  on  the  outside  of  Monsieur  des 
Prez's  force  ;  thus  bringing  the  whole  of  the  two  fleets 
into  four  lines,  all  steering  dead  before  the  wind,  and,  as 
it.  were,  interwoven  with  each  other.  By  that  time,  the 
poops  of  the  Plantagenet  and  Caesar  became  visible  from 
one  to  the  other,  the  smoke  now  driving  principally  off 
from  the  vessels.  There  again  were  our  two  admirals 
each  anxiously  watching  to  get  a  glimpse  of  his  friend. 
The  instant  the  place  was  clear,  Sir  Gervaise  applied  the 
trumpet  to  his  mouth  and  called,  out : 

"  God  bless  you,  Dick !   may  God  forever  bless  you — 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  387 

your  ship  can  do  it — clap  your  helm  hard  a-starboard,  and 
sheer  into  M.  des  Prez  ;  you'll  have  him  in  five  minutes." 

Bluewater  smiled,  waved  his  hand,  gave  an  order,  and 
laid  aside  his  trumpet.  Two  minutes  later,  the  Caesar 
sheered  into  the  smoke  on  her  larboard  beam,  and  the 
crash  of  the  meeting  vessels  was  heard.  By  this  time,  the 
wreck  of  the  Plantagenet  was  cut  adrift,  and  she,  too, 
made  a  rank  sheer,  though  in  a  direction  opposite  to  that 
of  the  Caesar's.  As  she  went  through  the  smoke,  her  guns 
ceased,  and  when  she  emerged  into  the  pure  air,  it  was 
found  that  Le  Foudroyant  had  set  course  and  topgallant- 
sails,  and  was  drawing  so  fast  ahead  as  to  render  pursuit 
under  the  little  sail  that  could  be  set,  unprofitable.  Sig 
nals  were  out  of  the  question,  but  this  movement  of  the 
two  admirals  converted  the  whole  battle  scene  into  one  of 
inexplicable  confusion.  Ship  after  ship  changed  her  posi 
tion,  and  ceased  her  fire  from  uncertainty  what  that  posi 
tion  was,  until  a  general  silence  succeeded  the  roar  of 
the  cannonade.  It  was  indispensable  to  pause  and  let 
the  smoke  blow  away. 

It  did  not  require  many  minutes  to  raise  the  curtain  on 
two  fleets.  As  soon  as  the  firing  stopped,  the  wind  increased, 
and  the  smoke  was  driven  off  to  leeward  in  a  vast,  strag 
gling  cloud,  that  seemed  to  scatter  and  disperse  in  the  air 
spontaneously.  Then  a  sight  of  the  havoc  and  destruction 
that  had  been  done  in  this  short  conflict  was  first  obtained. 

The  two  squadrons  were  intermingled,  and  it  required 
some  little  time  for  Sir  Gervaise  to  get  a  clear  idea  of  the 
state  of  his  own  ships.  Generally,  it  might  be  said  that 
the  vessels  were  scattering,  the  French  sheering  toward 
their  own  coast,  while  the  English  were  principally  com 
ing  by  the  wind  on  the  larboard  track,  or  heading  toward 
England.  The  Caesar  and  Le  Pluton  were  still  foul  of 
each  other,  though  a  Rear-admiral's  flag  was  flying  at  the 
mizzen  of  the  first,  while  that  which  had  so  lately  fluttered 
at  the  royal-masthead  of  the  other  had  disappeared. 

The  Achilles,  Lord  M  organic,  was  still  among  the  French, 
more  to  leeward  than  any  other  English  ship,  without  a 
single  spar  standing.  Her  ensigns  were  flying,  notwith 
standing,  and  the  Thunderer  and  Dublin,  both  in  tolerable 
order,  were  edging  away  rapidly  to  cover  their  crippled 
consort  ;  though  the  nearest  French  vessels  seemed  more 
bent  on  getting  out  of  the  melee,  and  into  their  own  line 
again,  than  on  securing  any  advantage  already  obtained. 


388  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

Le  Temeraire  was  in  the  same  predicament  as  the  Achilles 
as  to  spars,  though  much  more  injured  in  her  hull,  besides 
having  thrice  as  many  casualties.  Her  flag  was  down  ; 
the  ship  having  fairly  struck  to  the  Warspite,  whose  boats 
were  already  alongside  of  her.  Le  Foudroyant,  with  quite 
one  third  of  her  crew,  killed  and  wounded,  was  running 
off  to  leeward,  with  signals  flying  for  her  consorts  to  rally 
round  her  ;  but,  within  less  than  ten  minutes  after  she  be 
came  visible,  her  main  and  mizzen-masts  both  went.  The 
Blenheim  had  lost  all  her  top-masts,  like  the  Plantagenet, 
and  neither  the  Elizabeth  nor  the  York  had  a  mizzen-mast 
standing,  although  engaged  but  a  very  short  time.  Sev 
eral  lower  yards  were  shot  away,  or  so  much  injured  as  to 
compel  the  ships  to  shorten  sail  ;  this  accident  having  oc 
curred  in  both  fleets.  As  for  the  damage  done  to  the 
standing  and  running  rigging,  and  to  the  sails,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  say  that  shrouds,  back  and  head  stays,  braces, 
bowlines  and  lifts,  were  dangling  in  all  directions,  while 
the  canvas  that  was  open  exhibited  all  sorts  of  rents,  from 
that  which  had  been  torn  like  cloth  in  the  shopman's 
hands,  to  the  little  eyelet-holes  of  the  canister  and  grape. 
It  appeared,  by  the  subsequent  reports  of  the  two  parties, 
that,  in  this  short  but  severe  conflict,  the  slain  and  the 
wounded  of  the  English  amounted  to  seven  hundred  and 
sixty-three,  including  officers  ;  and  that  of  the  French,  to 
one  thousand  four  hundred  and  twelve.  The  disparity  in 
this  respect  would  probably  have  been  greater  against  the 
latter,  had  it  not  been  for  the  manner  in  which  M.  des 
Prez  succeeded  in  doubling  on  his  enemies. 

Little  need  be  said  in  explanation  of  the  parts  of  this 
battle  that  have  not  been  distinctly  related.  M.  des  Prez 
had  manoeuvred  in  the  manner  he  did,  at  the  commence 
ment  of  the  affair,  in  the  hope  of  drawing  Sir-Gervaise 
down  upon  the  division  of  the  Comte  de  Vervillin  ;  and 
no  sooner  did  he  see  the  first  fairly  enveloped  in  smoke, 
than  he  wore  short  round  and  joined  in  the  affair,  as  has 
been  mentioned.  At  this  sight,  Bluewater's  loyalty  to  the 
Stuarts  could  resist  no  longer.  Throwing  out  a  general 
signal  to  engage,  he  squared  away,  set  everything  that 
would  draw  on  the  Caesar,  and  arrived  in  time  to  save  his 
friend.  The  other  ships  followed,  engaging  on  the  out 
side,  for  want  of  room  to  imitate  their  leader. 

Two  more  of  the  French  ships,  at  least,  in  addition  to 
Le  Temeraire  and  Le  Pluton,  might  have  been  added  to 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  389 

the  list  of  prizes,  had  the  actual  condition  of  their  fleet 
been  known.  But,  at  such  moments,  a  combatant  sees 
and  feels  his  own  injuries,  while  he  has  to  conjecture 
many  of  those  of  his  adversaries  ;  and  the  English  were 
too  much  occupied  in  making  the  provisions  necessary  to 
save  their  remaining  spars,  to  risk  much  in  order  to  swell 
an  advantage  that  was  already  so  considerable.  Some 
distant  firing  passed  between  the  Thunderer  and  Dublin, 
and  L'Ajax,  Le  Dugay  Trouin,  and  L'Hector,  before  the 
two  former  succeeded  in  getting  Lord  M organic  out  of  his 
difficulties  ;  but  it  led  to  no  material  result ;  merely  in 
flicting  new  injuries  on  certain  spars  that  were  sufficiently 
damaged  before,  and  killing  and  wounding  some  fifteen 
or  twenty  men  quite  uselessly.  As  soon  as  the  Vice-ad 
miral  saw  what  was  likely  to  be  the  effect  of  this  episode, 
he  called  off  Captain  O'Neil  of  the  Dublin,  by  signal,  he 
being  an  officer  of  a  "  hot  temper,"  as  the  soldier  said  of 
himself  at  Waterloo.  The  compliance  with  this  order  may 
be  said  to  have  terminated  the  battle. 

The  reader  will  remember  that  the  wind,  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  engagement,  was  at  northwest.  It  was 
nearly  "  killed,"  as  seamen  express  it,  by  the  cannonade  ; 
then  it  revived  a  little,  as  the  concussions  of  the  guns 
gradually  diminished.  But  the  combined  effect  of  the  ad 
vance  of  the  day,  and  the  rushing  of  new  currents  of  air  to 
fill  the  vacuums  produced  by  the  burning  of  so  much 
powder,  was  a  sudden  shift  of  wind  ;  a  breeze  coming  out 
strong,  as  it  might  be,  in  an  instant,  from  the  eastward. 

This  unexpected  alteration  in  the  direction  and  power  of 
the  wind,  cost  the  Thunderer  her  foremast,  and  did  other 
damage  to  different  ships  ;  but,  by  dint  of  great  activity 
and  careful  handling,  all  the  English  vessels  got  their  heads 
round  to  the  northward,  while  the  French  filled  the  other 
way,  and  went  off  free,  steering  nearly  southeast,  making 
the  best  of  their  way  for  Brest.  The  latter  suffered  still 
more  then  their  enemies,  by  the  change  just  mentioned  ; 
and  when  they  reached  port  as  did  all  but  one  on  the  fol 
lowing  day,  no  less  than  three  were  towed  in  without  a 
spar  standing,  bowsprits  excepted. 

The  exception  was  Le  Caton,  which  ship  M.  de  Vervil- 
lin  set  fire  to  and  blew  up,  on  account  of  her  damages,  in 
the  course  of  the  afternoon.  Thus  of  twelve  noble  two- 
decked  ships  with  which  this  officer  sailed  from  Cherbourg 
only  two  days  before,  he  reached  Brest  with  but  seven. 


390  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

Nor  were  the  English  entirely  without  their  embarrass* 
ments.  Although  the  Warspite  had  compelled  Le  Teme- 
raire  to  strike  she  was  kept  afloat  herself  with  a  good  deal 
of  difficulty,  and  that  too,  not  without  considerable  assist 
ance  from  the  other  vessels.  The  leaks,  however,  were 
eventually  stopped,  and  then  the  ship  was  given  up  to  the 
care  of  her  own  crew.  Other  vessels  suffered,  of  course, 
but  no  English  ship  was  in  as  much  jeopardy  as  this. 

The  first  hour  after  the  action  ceased,  was  one  of  great 
exertion  and  anxiety  to  our  admiral.  He  called  the  Chloe 
alongside  by  signal,  and,  attended  by  Wycherly  and  his 
own  quartermasters,  Galleygo,  who  went  without  orders, 
and  the  Bowlderos  who  were  unhurt,  he  shifted  his  flag  to 
that  frigate.  Then  he  immediately  commenced  passing  from 
vessel  to  vessel,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  actual  condition 
of  his  command.  The  Achilles  detained  him  some  time, 
and  he  was  near  her,  or  to  leeward,  when  the  wind  shifted 
which  was  bringing  him  to  windward  in  the  present  state 
of  things.  Of  this  advantage  he  availed  himself,  by  urg 
ing  the  different  ships  off  as  fast  as  possible  ;  and  long 
before  the  sun  was  in  the  meridian,  all  the  English  vessels 
were  making  the  best  of  their  way  toward  the  land,  with 
the  intention  of  fetching  into  Plymouth  if  possible  ;  if  not, 
into  the  nearest  and  best  anchorage  to  leeward.  The  prog 
ress  of  the  fleet  was  relatively  slow,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
though  it  got  along  at  the  rate  of  some  five  knots,  by  mak 
ing  a  free  wind  of  it. 

The  master  of  the  Chloe  had  just  taken  the  sun,  in  order 
to  ascertain  his  latitude,  when  the  Vice-admiral  commanded 
Denham  to  set  topgallant  sails,  and  go  within  hail  of  the 
Caesar.  That  ship  had  got  clear  of  Le  Pluton  half  an 
hour  after  the  action  ceased,  and  she  was  now  leading  the 
fleet  with  her  three  topsails  on  the  caps.  Aloft  she  had  suf 
fered  comparatively  little  ;  but  Sir  Gervaise  knew  that  there 
must  have  been  a  serious  loss  of  men  in  carrying,  hand  to 
hand,  a  vessel  like  that  of  M.  des  Prez.  He  was  anxious  to 
see  his  friend,  and  hear  the  manner  in  which  his  success 
had  been  obtained,  and,  we  might  add,  to  remonstrate  with 
Bluewater  on  a  course  that  had  led  the  latter  to  the  verge 
of  a  most  dangerous  abyss. 

The  Chloe  was  half  an  hour  running  through  the  fleet, 
which  was  a  good  deal  extended,  and  was  sailing  without 
any  regard  to  a  line.  Sir  Gervaise  had  many  questions  to 
ask,  too,  of  the  different  commanders  in  passing.  At  last 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  391 

the  frigate  overtook  Le  Temeraire,  which  vessel  was  fol 
lowing  the  Caesar  under  easy  canvas.  As  the  Chloe  came 
up  abeam,  Sir  Gervaise  appeared  in  the  gangway  of  the 
frigate,  and,  hat  in  hand,  he  asked  with  an  accent  that  was 
intelligible,  though  it  might  not  have  absolutely  stood  the 
test  of  criticism — 

"  Le  Vice-admiral  Oakes  demande  comment  se  porte-il,  le  con- 
tre-amiral,  le  Vicomte  des  Prez  ?  " 

A  little  elderly  man,  dressed  with  extreme  care,  with  a 
powdered  head,  but  of  a  firm  step  and  perfectly  collected 
expression  of  countenance,  appeared  on  the  verge  of  Le 
Temeraire's  poop,  trumpet  in  hand,  to  reply. 

"Le  Vicomte  des  Prez  remercie  bien  Monsieur  le  Chevalier 
Oake,  et  desire  vivement  de  savoir  comment  se  porte  Monsieur  le 
Vice-amir  all" 

Mutual  waves  of  trumpets  served  as  replies  to  the  ques 
tions,  and  then,  after  taking  a  moment  to  muster  his 
French,  Sir  Gervaise  continued  : 

"  J'espere  voir  Monsieur  le  Contre-Amtral  a  diner  a  cinq 
heures,  precis" 

The  Vicomte  smiled  at  this  characteristic  manifestation 
of  good  will  and  courtesy  ;  and  after  pausing  an  instant  to 
choose  an  expression  to  soften  his  refusal,  and  to  express 
his  own  sense  of  the  motive  of  the  invitation,  he  called 
out: 

"  Veuillez  bien  receivoir  nos  excuses  pour  aujourdhui,  Mons. 
le  Chevalier.  Nous  riavons  pas  encore  digere  le  repas  si  noble 
recu  a  vos  mains  comme  dejeuner." 

The  Chloe  passing  ahead,  bows  terminated  the  inter 
view.  Sir  Gervaise's  French  was  at  fault,  for  what  be 
tween  the  rapid,  neat  pronunciation  of  the  Frenchman,  the 
trumpet,  and  the  turn  of  the  expression,  he  did  not  com 
prehend  the  meaning  of  the  Contre-amiral. 

"What  does  he  say,  Wychecombe  ?"  he  asked  eagerly 
of  the  young  man.  "Will  he  come  or  not? " 

"  Upon  my  word,  Sir  Gervaise,  French  is  a  sealed  lan 
guage  to  me.  Never  having  been  a  prisoner,  no  opportu 
nity  has  offered  for  acquiring  the  language.  As  I  under 
stood,  you  intended  to  ask  him  to  dinner ;  I  rather  think, 
from  his  countenance,  he  meant  to  say  he  was  not  in  spirits 
for  the  entertainment." 

"  Pooh  !  we  would  have  put  him  in  spirits,  and  Blue- 
water  could  have  talked  to  him  in  his  own  tongue  by  the 
fathom.  We  will  close  with  the  Caesar  to  leeward,  Den- 


392  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

ham  ;  never  mind  rank  on  an  occasion  like  this.  It's  time 
to  let  the  topgallant-halyards  run  ;  you'll  have  to  settle 
your  topsails,  too,  or  we  shall  shoot  past  her.  Bluewater 
may  take  it  as  a  salute  to  his  gallantry  in  carrying  so  fine 
a  ship  in  so  handsome  a  manner." 

Several  minutes  now  passed  in  silence,  during  which  the 
fleet  was  less  and  less  rapidly  closing  with  the  larger  ves 
sel,  drawing  ahead  toward  the  last,  as  it  might  be,  foot  by 
foot.  Sir  Gervaise  got  upon  one  of  the  quarter-deck  guns, 
and  steadying  himself  against  the  hammock-cloths,  he  was 
in  readiness  to  exchange  the  greetings  he  was  accustomed 
to  give  and  to  receive  from  his  friend,  in  the  same  heartfelt 
manner  as  if  nothing  had  occurred  to  disturb  the  harmony 
of  their  feelings.  The  single  glance  of  the  eye,  the  wav 
ing  of  the  hat,  and  the  noble  manner  in  which  Bluewater 
interposed  between  him  and  his  most  dangerous  enemy, 
was  still  present  to  his  mind,  and  disposed  him  even  more 
than  common  to  the  kindest  feelings  of  his  nature.  Stow- 
el  was  already  on  the  poop  of  the  Caesar,  and,  as  the 
Chloe  came  slowly  on,  he  raised  his  hat  in  deference  to 
the  Commander-in-chief.  It  was  a  point  of  delicacy  with 
Sir  Gervaise  never  to  interfere  with  any  subordinate  flag- 
officer's  vessel  any  more  than  duty  rigidly  required  ;  con 
sequently  his  communications  with  the  Captain  of  the 
Caesar  had  usually  been  of  a  general  nature,  verbal  orders 
and  criticisms  being  studiously  avoided.  The  circum 
stances  rendered  the  Commander-in-chief  even  a  greater 
favorite  than  common  with  Stowel,  who  had  all  his  own 
way  in  his  own  ship,  in  consequence  of  the  Rear-admiral's 
indifference  to  such  matters. 

"  How  do  you  do,  Stowel?"  called  out  Sir  Gervaise 
cordially.  "  I  am  delighted  to  see  you  on  your  legs,  and 
hope  the  old  Roman  is  not  much  the  worse  for  this  day's 
treatment." 

"  I  thank  you,  Sir  Gervaise,  we  are  both  afloat  yet, 
though  we  have  passed  through  warm  times.  The  ship  is 
damaged,  sir,  as  you  may  suppose  ;  and,  though  it  stands 
so  bravely,  and  looks  so  upright,  that  foremast  of  ours  is 
as  good  as  a  condemned  spar.  One  thirty-two  through  the 
heart  of  it,  about  ten  feet  from  the  deck,  an  eighteen  in 
the  hounds,  and  a  double-header  sticking  in  one  of  the 
hoops  !  A  spar  cannot  be  counted  for  much  that  has  as 
many  holes  in  it  as  those,  sir  ?" 

"  Deal  tenderly  with  it,  my  old  friend,  and  spare  the  can- 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  393 

vas  ;  those  chaps  at  Plymouth  will  set  all  to  rights,  again, 
in  a  week.  Hoops  can  be  had  for  asking,  and  as  for  holes 
in  the  heart,  many  a  poor  fellow  has  had  them,  and  lived 
through  it  all.  You  are  a  case  in  point ;  Mrs.  Stovvel  not 
having  spared  you  in  that  way,  I'll  answer  for  it." 

"  Mrs.  Stowel  commands  ashore,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  I  com 
mand  afloat  ;  and  in  that  way,  we  keep  a  quiet  ship  and  a 
quiet  house,  I  thank  you,  sir;  and  I  endeavor  to  think  of 
her,  at  sea,  as  little  as  possible." 

"  Aye,  that's  the  way  with  you  doting  husbands,  always 
ashamed  of  your  own  lively  sensibilities.  But  what  has 
become  of  Blue\vater  ?  Does  he  know  that  we  are  along 
side  ? " 

Stowel  looked  round,  cast  his  eyes  up  at  the  sails,  and 
played  with  the  hilt  of  his  sword.  The  rapid  eye  of  the 
Commander-in-chief  detected  this  embarrassment,  and 
quick  as  thought  he  demanded  what  had  happened. 

"Why,  Sir  Gervaise,  you  know  how  it  is  with  some  ad 
mirals,  who  like  to  be  in  everything.  I  told  our  respect 
ed  and  beloved  friend  that  he  had  nothing  to  do  with 
boarding  ;  that  if  either  of  us  was  to  go,  /was  the  proper 
man  ;  but  that  we  ought  both  to  stick  by  the  ship.  He  an 
swered  something  about  lost  honor  and  duty,  and  you 
know,  sir,  what  legs  he  has,  when  he  wishes  to  use  them  ! 
One  might  as  well  think  of  stopping  a  deserter  by  halloo  ; 
away  he  went,  with  the  first  party,  sword  in  hand,  a  sight 
I  never  saw  before,  and  never  wish  to  see  again  !  Thus  you 
see  how  it  wras,  sir." 

The  Commander-in-chief  compressed  his  lips,  until  his 
features,  and  indeed  his  whole  form  was  a  picture  of  des 
perate  resolution,  though  his  face  was  as  pale  as  death, 
and  the  muscles  of  his  mouth  twitched,  in  spite  of  all  his 
physical  self-command. 

"  I  understand  y.ou,  sir,"  he  said,  in  a  voice  that  seemed 
to  issue  from  his  chest  ;  "  you  wish  to  say  that  Admiral 
Bluewater  is  killed." 

"No,  thank  God  !  Sir  Gervaise,  not  quite  as  bad  as  that, 
though  sadly  hurt  ;  yes,  indeed,  very  sadly  hurt !" 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  groaned,  and  for  a  few  minutes  he 
leaned  his  head  on  the  hammock-cloths,  veiling  his  face 
from  the  sight  of  men.  Then  he  raised  his  person  erect, 
and  said,  steadily : 

"  Run  your  topsails  to  the  masthead,  Captain  Stowel. 
and  round  your  ship  to.  I  will  come  on  board  of  you." 


394  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

An  order  was  given  to  Denham  to  take  room,  when  the 
Chloe  came  to  the  wind  on  one  tack  and  the  Caesar  on  the 
other.  This  was  contrary  to  rule,  as  it  increased  the  dis 
tance  between  the  ships  ;  but  the  Vice-admiral  was  im 
patient  to  be  in  his  barge.  In  ten  minutes  he  was 
mounting  the  Caesar's  side,  and  in  two  more  he  was  in 
Bluewater's  main-cabin.  Geoffrey  Cleveland  was  seated 
by  the  table  with  his  face  buried  in  his  arms.  Touching 
his  shoulder,  the  boy  raised  his  head,  and  showed  a  face 
covered  with  tears. 

"  How  is  he,  boy  ?  "  demanded  Sir  Gervaise,  hoarsely. 
"  Do  the  surgeons  give  any  hopes  ? " 

The  midshipman  shook  his  head,  and  then,  as  if  the 
question  renewed  his  grief,  he  again  buried  his  face  in  his 
arms.  At  this  moment,  the  surgeon  of  the  ship  came  from 
the  Rear-admiral's  state-room,  and  following  the  Com 
mander-in-chief  into  the  after-cabin,  they  had  a  long  con 
ference  together. 

Minute  after  minute  passed,  and  Caesar  and  Chloe  still 
lay  with  their  main-topsails  aback.  At  the  end  of  half  an 
hour,  Denham  wore  round  and  laid  the  head  of  his  frigate 
in  the  proper  direction.  Ship  after  ship  came  up,  and 
went  on  to  the  northward,  fast  as  her  crippled  state  would 
allow,  yet  no  sign  of  movement  was  seen  in  the  Caesar. 
Two  sail  had  appeared  in  the  southeastern  board,  and  they, 
too,  approached  and  passed  without  bringing  the  Vice-ad 
miral  even  on  deck.  These  ships  proved  to  be  the  Carnatic 
and  her  prize,  La  Scipion,  which  latter  ship  had  been  inter 
cepted  and  easily  captured  by  the  former.  The  steering  of 
M.  de  Vervillin  to  the  southwest  had  left  a  clear  passage  to 
the  two  ships,  which  were  coming  down  with  a  free  wind 
at  a  handsome  rate  of  sailing.  This  news  was  sent  into 
the  Caesar's  cabin,  but  it  brought  no  person  and  no  answer 
out  of  it.  At  length,  when  every  thing  had  gone  ahead, 
the  barge  returned  to  the  Chloe.  It  merely  took  a  note, 
however,  which  was  no  sooner  read  by  Wycherly,  than  he 
summoned  the  Bowlderos  and  Galleygo,  had  all  the  Vice- 
admiral's  luggage  passed  into  the  boat,  struck  his  flag,  and 
took  his  leave  of  Denham.  As  soon  as  the  boat  was  clear 
of  the  frigate,  the  latter  made  all  sail  after  the  fleet,  to  re 
sume  her  ordinary  duties  of  a  lookout  and  a  repeating- 
ship. 

As  soon  as  Wycherly  reached  the  Caesar,  that  ship  hoisted 
in  the  Vice-admiral's  barge.  A  report  was  made  to  Sir  Ger- 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  395 

vaise  of  what  had  been  done,  and  then  an  order  came  on 
deck  that  occasioned  all  in  the  fleet  to  stare  with  surprise. 
The  red  flag  of  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  was  run  up  at  the  fore 
royal-masthead  of  the  Caesar,  while  the  white  flag  of  the 
Rear-admiral  was  still  flying  at  her  mizzen.  Such  a  thing 
had  never  before  been  known  to  happen,  if  it  has  ever  hap 
pened  since :  and  to  the  time  when  she  was  subsequently 
lost,  the  Caesar  was  known  as  the  double  flag-ship. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

WE  shall  now  ask  permission  of  the  reader  to  advance 
the  time  just  eight-and-forty  hours;  a  liberty  with  the 
unities  which  he  will  do  us  the  justice  to  say,  we  have  not 
often  taken.  We  must  also  transfer  the  scene  to  that  al 
ready  described,  at  Wychecombe,  including  the  Head,  the 
station,  the  roads,  and  the  inland  and  seaward  views.  Sum 
mer  weather  had  returned,  too,  the  pennants  of  the  ships 
at  anchor  scarce  streaming  from  their  masts  far  enough  to 
form  curved  lines.  Most  of  the  English  fleet  was  among 
those  vessels,  though  the  squadron  had  undergone  some 
changes.  The  Druid  had  gone  into  Portsmouth  with  La 
Victoire  ;  the  Driver  and  Active  had  made  the  best  of  their 
way  to  the  nearest  ports,  with  dispatches  for  the  Admi 
ralty  ;  and  the  Achilles,  in  tow  of  the  Dublin,  with  the  Chloe 
to  take  care  of  both,  had  gone  to  leeward,  with  square 
yards,  in  the  hope  of  making  Falmouth.  The  rest  of  the 
force  was  present,  the  crippled  ships  having  been  towed 
into  the  roads  that  morning.  The  picture  among  the  ship 
ping  was  one  of  extreme  activity  and  liveliness.  Jury- 
masts  were  going  up  in  the  Warspite ;  lower  and  topsail- 
yards  were  down  to  be  fished,  or  new  ones  were  rigging  to 
be  sent  aloft  in  their  places  ;  the  Plantagenet  was  all 
a-tanto,  again,  in  readiness  for  another  action,  with  rigging 
secured  and  masts  fished,  while  none  but  an  instructed  eye 
could  have  detected,  at  a  short  distance,  that  the  Caesar, 
Carnatic,  Dover,  York,  Elizabeth,  and  one  or  two  more, 
had  been  in  the  action  at  all. 

The  landing  was- crowded  with  boats  as  before,  the  gun 
room  servants  and  midshipmen's  boys  were  foraging  as 
usual  ;  some  with  honest  intent  to  find  delicacies  "for  the 
wounded,  but  more  with  the  roguish  design  of  contribut- 


396  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

ing  to  the  comforts  of  the  unhurt,  by  making  appeals  to 
the  sympathies  of  the  women  of  the  neighborhood,  in  be 
half  of  the  hurt. 

The  principal  transformation  that  had  been  brought 
about  by  this  state  of  things,  however,  was  apparent  at  the 
station.  This  spot  had  the  appearance  of  a  place  to  which 
the  headquarters  of  an  army  had  been  transferred,  in  the 
vicissitudes  of  the  field  ;  warlike  sailors,  if  not  soldiers, 
flocking  to  it  as  the  centre  of  interest  and  intelligence. 
Still  there  was  a  singularity  observable  in  the  manner  in 
which  these  heroes  of  the  deck  paid  their  court  ;  the  cot 
tage  being  seemingly  tabooed,  or,  at  most,  approached  by 
very  few,  while  the  grass  at  the  foot  of  the  flag-staff  was 
already  beginning  to  show  proofs  of  the  pressure  of  many 
feet.  This  particular  spot,  indeed,  was  the  centre  of 
attraction  ;  there,  officers  of  all  rank  and  ages  were  con 
stantly  arriving,  and  thence  they  were  as  often  departing ;  all 
bearing  countenances  sobered  by  anxiety  and  apprehension. 
Notwithstanding  the  constant  mutations,  there  had  been 
no  instant  since  the  rising  of  the  sun,  when  some  ten  or 
twelve,  at  least,  including  captains,  lieutenants,  masters, 
and  idlers,  had  not  been  collected  around  the  bench  at  the 
foot  of  the  signal-staff,  and  not  unfrequently  the  company 
reached  even  double  that  number. 

A  little  retired  from  the  crowd,  and  near  the  verge  of 
the  cliff,  a  large  tent  had  been  pitched.  A  marine  paced 
in  its  front,  as  a  sentinel.  Another  stood  near  the  gate  of 
the  little  door-yard  of  the  cottage,  and  all  the  persons  who 
approached  either,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  of  the 
privileged,  were  referred  to  the  sergeant  who  commanded 
the  guard.  The  arms  of  the  latter  were  stacked  on  the 
grass,  at  hand,  and  the  men  off  post  were  loitering  near. 
These  were  the  usual  military  signs  of  the  presence  of 
officers  of  rank,  and  may,  in  sooth,  be  taken  as  clew  to  the 
actual  state  of  tilings,  on  and  around  the  Head. 

Admiral  Bluewater  lay  in  the  cottage,  while  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes  occupied  the  tent.  The  former  had  been  transferred 
to  the  place  where  he  was  about  to  breathe  his  last,  at  his 
own  urgent  request,  while  his  friend  had  refused  to  be 
separated  from  him,  so  long  as  life  remained.  The  two 
flags  were  still  flying  at  the  mastheads  of  the  Caesar,  a  sort 
of  melancholy  memorial  of  the  tie  that  had  so  long  bound 
their  gallant  owners  in  the  strong  sympathies  of  an  endur 
ing  personal  and  professional  friendshio. 


iva 

THE    TWO  ADMIRhjZs..  397 


Persons  of  the  education  of  Mrs.  Dutton  and  her  daugh 
ter  had  not  dwelt  so  long  on  that  beautiful  headland,  with 
out  leaving  on  the  spot  some  lasting  impressions  of  their 
tastes.  Of  the  cottage,  we  have  already  spoken.  The 
little  garden,  too,  then  bright  with  flowers,  had  a  grace  and 
refinement  about  it  that  we  would  hardly  have  expected  to 
meet  in  such  a  place  ;  and  even  the  paths  that  led  athwart 
the  verdant  common  which  spread  over  so  much  of  the  up 
land,  had  been  directed  with  an  eye  to  the  picturesque  and 
agreeable.  One  of  these  paths,  too,  led  to  a  rustic  summer- 
house  —  a  sort  of  small,  rude,  pavilion,  constructed,  like  the 
fences,  of  fragments  of  wrecks,  and  placed  on  a  shelf  of  the 
cliff,  at  a  dizzy  elevation,  but  in  perfect  security.  So  far 
from  there  being  any  danger  in  erecting  this  summer- 
house,  indeed,  Wycherly,  during  his  six  months'  residence 
near  the  Head,  had  made  a  path  that  descended  still 
lower,  to  a  point  that  was  utterly  concealed  from  all  eyes 
above,  and  had  actually  planted  a  seat  on  another  shelf 
with  so  much  security,  that  both  Mildred  and  her  mother 
often  visited  it  in  company.  During  the  young  man's  re 
cent  absence,  the  poor  girl,  indeed,  had  passed  much  of 
her  time  there,  weeping  and  suffering  in  solitude.  To  this 
seat,  Dutton  never  ventured  ;  the  descent,  though  well 
protected  with  ropes,  requiring  greater  steadiness  of  foot 
and  head  than  intemperance  had  left  him.  Once  or  twice, 
Wycherly  had  induced  Mildred  to  pass  an  hour  with  him 
alone  in  this  romantic  place,  and  some  of  his  sweetest 
recollections  of  this  just  minded  and  intelligent  girl  were 
connected  with  the  frank  communications  that  had  there 
occurred  between  them.  On  this  bench  he  was  seated  at 
the  time  of  the  opening  of  the  present  chapter. 

The  movement  on  the  Head,  and  about  the  cottage,  was 
so  great  as  to  deprive  him  of  every  chance  of  seeing  Mil 
dred  alone,  and  he  had  hoped  that,  led  by  some  secret 
sympathy,  she,  too,  might  seek  this  perfectly  retired  seat, 
to  obtain  a  moment  of  unobserved  solitude,  if  not  from 
some  dearer  motive.  He  had  not  waited  long,  ere  he 
heard  a  heavy  foot  over  his  head,  and  a  man  entered  the 
summer-house.  He  was  yet  debating  whether  to  abandon 
all  hopes  of  seeing  Mildred,  when  his  acute  ear  caught 
her  light  and  well-known  footstep,  as  she  reached  the 
summer-house,  also. 

"  Father,  I  have  come  as  you  desired,"  said  the  poor 
girl,  in  those  tremulous  tones  which  Wycherly  too  well 


398  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

understood,    not    to    imagine   the    condition    of    Button. 

Admiral  Bluewater  dozes,  and  mother  has  permitted  me, 
to  steal  away." 

"Aye,  Admiral  Bluewater  is  a  great  man,  though  but 
little  better  than  a  dead  one  !  "  answered  Button,  as  harshlv 
in  manner  as  the  language  was  coarse.  "  You  and  your 
mother  are  a"ll  attention  to  him  ;  did  I  lie  in  his  place, 
which  of  you  would  be  found  hanging  over  my  bed,  with 
pale  cheeks  and  tearful  eyes  ? " 

"  Both  of  us,  father!  Bo  not — do  not  think  so  ill  of 
your  wife  and  daughter,  as  to  suppose  it  possible  that 
either  of  them  could  forget  her  duty." 

"  Yes,  duty  might  do  something,  perhaps  ;  what  has 
duty  to  do  writh  this  useless  Rear-admiral  ?  I  hate  the 
scoundrel — he  was  one  of  the  court  that  cashiered  me  ; 
and  one,  too,  that  I  am  told,  was  the  most  obstinate  in  re 
fusing  to  help  me  into  this  pitiful  berth  of  a  master." 

Mildred  was  silent.  She  could  not  vindicate  her  friend 
without  criminating  her  father.  As  for  Wycherly,  he 
would  have  given  a  year's  income  to  be  at  sea  ;  yet  he 
shrank  from  wounding  the  poor  daughter's  feelings  by 
•letting  her  know  he  overheard  the  dialogue.  This  inde 
cision  made  him  the  unwilling  auditor  of  a  conversation 
that  he  ought  not  to  have  heard — an  occurrence  which, 
had  there  been  time  for  reflection,  he  would  have  taken 
means  to  prevent. 

"Sit  you  down  here,  Mildred,"  resumed  Button,  sternly, 
"  and  listen  to  what  I  have  to  say.  It  is  time  that  there 
should  no  longer  be  any  trifling  between  us.  You  have 
the  fortunes  of  your  mother  and  myself  in  your  hands  ; 
and,  as  one  of  the  parties  so  deeply  concerned,  I  am  deter 
mined  mine  shall  be  settled  at  once." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  father,"  said  Mildred,  with  a 
tremor  in  her  voice  that  almost  induced  the  young  man  to 
show  himself,  though  we  owe  it  to  truth  to  say,  that  a 
lively  curiosity  now  mingled  with  his  other  sensations. 
"  How  can  I  have  the  keeping  of  dear  mother's  fortunes 
and  yours  ? ' 

"Bear  mother,  truly  !  Bear  enough  has  she  proved  to 
me  ;  but  I  intend  the  daughter  shall  pay  for  it.  Hark 
you,  Mildred  ;  I'll  have  no  more  of  this  trifling — but  I 
ask  you  in  a  father's  name,  if  any  man  has  offered  you 
his  hand  ?  Speak  plainly,  and  conceal  nothing — I  will  be 
answered." 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  399 

"  I  wish  to  conceal  nothing,  father,  that  ought  to  be 
told  ;  but  when  a  young  woman  declines  the  honor  that 
another  does  her  in  this  way,  ought  she  to  reveal  the 
secret,  even  to  her  father  ?  " 

"  She  ought  ;  and  in  your  case,  she  shall.  No  more 
hesitation  ;  name  one  of  the  offers  you  have  had." 

Mildred,  after  a  brief  pause,  in  a  low,  tremulous  voice, 
pronounced  the  name  of  "  Mr.  Rotherham." 

"  I  suspected  as  much,"  growled  Button  ;  "  there  was  a 
time  when  even  he  might  have  answered,  but  we  can  do 
better  than  that  now.  Still  he  may  be  kept  as  a  reserve  ; 
the  thousand  pounds  Mr.  Thomas  says  shall  be  paid,  and 
that  and  the  living  will  make  a  comfortable  port  after  a 
stormy  life.  Well,  who  next,  Mildred  ?  Has  Mr.  Thomas 
Wychecombe  ever  come  to  the  point  ?  " 

"He  has  asked  me  to  become  his  wife,  within  the  last 
twenty-four  hours  ;  if  that  is  what  you  mean." 

"  No  affectations,  Milly  ;  I  can't  bear  them.  You  know 
well  enough  what  I  mean.  What  was  your  answer  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  love  him  in  the  least,  father,  and,  of  course,  I 
told  him  I  could  not  marry  him." 

"  That  don't  follow  of  course,  by  any  means,  girl !  The 
marrying  is  done  by  the  priest,  and  the  love  is  a  very  dif 
ferent  thing.  I  hope  you  consider  Mrs.  Button  as  my 
wife  ? " 

"  What  a  question  !  "  murmured  Mildred. 

"Well,  and  do  you  suppose  she  loves  me;  can  love  me, 
now  I  am  a  disgraced,  impoverished  man  ?" 

"  Father  !  " 

"  Come,  come — enough  of  this.  Mr.  Thomas  Wyche 
combe  may  not  be  legitimate — I  rather  think  he  is  not,  by 
the  proofs  Sir  Reginald  has  produced  within  the  last  day 
or  two  ;  and  I  understand  his  own  mother  is  dissatisfied 
with,  him,  and  that  will  knock  his  claim  flat  aback.  Not 
withstanding,  Mildred,  Tom  Wychecombe  has  a  good  six 
hundred  a  year  already,  and  Sir  Reginald  himself  admits 
that  he  must  take  all  the  personal  property  the  Baronet 
could  leave." 

"You  forget,  father,"  said  Mildred,  conscious  of  the  in- 
efficacy  of  any  other  appeal,  "  that  Mr.  Thomas  has  prom 
ised  to  pay  the  legacies  that  Sir  Wycherly  intended  to  leave." 

"  Bon't  place  any  expectations  on  that,  Mildred.  I  dare 
say  he  would  settle  ten  of  the  twenty  thousand  on  you  to 
morrow,  if  you  would  consent  to  have  him.  But,  how,  as 


400  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

to  this  new  Baronet,  for  it  seems  he  is  to  have  both  title 
and  estate — has  he  ever  offered  ?  " 

There  was  a  long  pause,  during  which  Wycherly  thought 
he  heard  the  hard  but  suppressed  breathing  of  Mildred. 
To  remain  quiet  any  longer,  he  felt  was  impossible,  as  in* 
deed,  his  conscience  told  him  it  was  dishonorable,  and  he 
sprang  along  the  path  to  ascend  to  the  summer-house.  At 
the  first  sound  of  his  footstep,  a  faint  cry  escaped  Mildred  ; 
but  when  Wycherly  entered  the  pavilion,  he  found  her 
face  buried  in  her  hands,  and  Button  tottering  forward, 
equally  in  surprise  and  alarm.  As  the  circumstances  would 
not  admit  of  evasion,  the  young  man  threw  aside  all  reserve, 
and  spoke  plainly. 

"  I  have  been  an  unwilling  listener  to  a  part  of  your  dis 
course  with  Mildred,  Mr.  Button,"  he  said,  "and  can  an 
swer  your  last  question  for  myself.  I  have  offered  my 
hand  to  your  daughter,  sir  ;  an  offer  that  I  now  renew,  and 
the  acceptance  of  which  would  make  me  the  happiest  man 
in  England.  If  your  influence  could  aid  me — for  she  has 
refused  my  hand " 

"  Refused  !  "  exclaimed  Button,  in  a  surprise  that  over 
came  the  calculated  amenity  of  manner  he  had  assumed 
the  instant  Wycherly  appeared,  "  Refused,  Sir  Wycherly 
Wychecombe  !  but  it  was  before  your  rights  had  been  as 
well  established  as  they  now  are.  Mildred,  answer  to  this 
— how  could  you — nay,  how  dare  you  refuse  such  an  offer 
as  this  ?  " 

Human  nature  could  not  well  endure  more.  Mildred 
suffered  her  hands  to  fall  helplessly  into  her  lap,  and  ex 
posed  a  face  that  was  lovely  as  that  of  an  angel,  though 
pale  nearly  to  the  hue  of  death.  Feeling  extorted  the  an 
swer  she  made,  though  the  words  had  hardly  escaped  her, 
ere  she  repented  having  uttered  them,  and  had  again 
buried  her  face  in  her  hands. 

"Father,"  she  said,  "  could  I — dare  I  to  encourage  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe  to  unite  himself  to  a  family  like 
ours !  "  , 

Conscience  smote  Button  with  a  force  that  nearly  so 
bered  him,  and  what  explanation  might  have  followed  it  is 
hard  to  say.  Wycherlv,  in  an  undertone,  however,  re 
quested  to  be  left  alone  with  his  daughter.  Button  had 
sense  enough  to  understand  he  was  de  trop,  and  shame 
enough  to  wish  to  escape.  In  half  a  minute,  he  had  hob 
bled  up  to  the  summit  of  the  cliff  and  disappeared. 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  401 

"  Mildred  !  Dearest  Mildred !  "  said  Wycherly,  tenderly, 
gently  endeavoring  to  draw  her  attention  to  himself,  "we 
are  alone  now  ;  surely — surely — you  will  not  refuse  to  look 
at  me  ! " 

"  Is  he  gone  ?"  asked  Mildred,  dropping  her  hands,  and 
looking  wildly  around.  "  Thank  God  !  It  is  over,  for  this 
time,  at  least !  Now,  let  us  go  to  the  house  ;  Admiral  Blue- 
water  may  miss  me." 

"No,  Mildred,  not  yet.  You  surely  can  spare  me — me, 
who  have  suffered  so  much  of  late  on  your  account — nay, 
by  your  means — you  can,  in  mercy,  spare  me  a  few  short 
minutes.  Was  this  the  reason — the  only  reason,  dearest 
girl,  why  you  so  pertinaciously  refused  my  hand  ?" 

"Was  it  not  sufficient,  Wycherly?"  answered  Mildred, 
afraid  the  chartered  air  might  hear  her  secret.  "  Remem 
ber  who  you  are,  and  what  I  am  !  Could  I  suffer  you  to 
become  the  husband  of  one  to  whom  such  cruel,  cruel 
propositions  had  been  made  by  her  own  father ! " 

"  I  shall  not  affect  to  conceal  my  horror  of  such  prin 
ciples,  Mildred,  but  your  virtues  shine  all  the  brighter  by 
having  flourished  in  their  company.  Answer  me  but  one 
question  frankly,  and  every  other  difficulty  can  be  gotten 
over.  Do  you  love  me  well  enough  to  be  my  wife,  were 
you  an  orphan  ?" 

Mildred's  countenance  was  full  of  anguish,  but  this  ques 
tion  changed  its  expression  entirely.  The  moment  was 
extraordinary,  as  were  the  feelings  it  engendered,  and, 
almost  unconsciously  to  herself,  she  raised  the  hand  that 
held  her  own  to  her  lips,  in  a  sort  of  reverence.  In  the 
next  instant  she  was  encircled  in  the  young  man's  arms, 
and  pressed  with  fervor  to  his  heart. 

"  Let  us  go,"  said  Mildred,  extricating  herself  from  an 
embrace  that  was  too  involuntarily  bestowed,  and  too 
heartfelt  to  alarm  her  delicacy.  "  I  feel  certain  that  Ad 
miral  Bluewater  will  miss  me  !  " 

"No,  Mildred,  we  cannot  part  thus.  Give  me,  at  least, 
the  poor  consolation  of  knowing,  that  if  this  difficulty  did 
not  exist — that  if  you  were  an  orphan,  for  instance — you 
would  be  mine  !  " 

"  Oh  !  Wycherly,  how  gladly — how  gladly  !  But,  say  no 
more — nay " 

This  time  the  embrace  was  longer,  more  fervent  even 
than  before,  and  Wycherly  was  too  much  of  a  sailor  to  let 
the  sweet  girl  escape  from  his  arms  without  imprinting  on 
26 


402  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

her  lips  a  kiss.  He  had  no  sooner  relinquished  his  hold  of 
the  slight  person  of  Mildred,  than  it  vanished.  With  this 
characteristic  leave-taking,  we  change  the  scene  to  the 
tent  of  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes. 

"You  have  seen  Admiral  Bluewater?"  demanded  the 
Commander-in-Chief,  as  soon  as  the  form  of  Magrath 
darkened  the  entrance,  and  speaking  with  the  sudden 
earnestness  of  a  man  determined  to  know  the  worst.  "  If 
so,  tell  me  at  once  what  hopes  there  are  for  him  ? " 

"Of  all  the  human  passions,  Sir  Jairvis,"  answered 
Magrath,  looking  aside,  to  avoid  the  keen  glance  of  the 
other,  "hope  is  generally  considered,  by  all  rational  men, 
as  the  most  treacherous  and  delusive  ;  I  may  add,  of  all 
denominations  or  divisions  of  hope,  that  which  decides  on 
life  is  the  most  unsartain.  We  all  hope  to  live,  I'm  think 
ing,  to  a  good  old  age,  and  yet  how  many  of  us  live  just 
long  enough  to  be  disappointed  !  " 

Sir  Gervaise  did  not  move  until  the  surgeon  ceased 
speaking  ;  then  he  began  to  pace  the  tent  in  mournful 
silence.  He  understood  Magrath's  manner  so  well,  that 
the  last  faint  hope  he  had  felt  from  seeking  his  opinion 
was  gone  ;  he  now  knew  that  his  friend  must  die.  It  re 
quired  all  his  fortitude  to  stand  up  against  this  blow  ;  for, 
single,  childless,  and  accustomed  to  each  other  from  in 
fancy,  these  two  veteran  sailors  had  got  to  regard  them 
selves  as  merely  isolated  parts  of  the  same  being.  Magrath 
was  affected  more  than  he  chose  to  express,  and  he  blew 
his  nose  several  times  in  a  way  that  any  observer  would 
have  found  suspicious. 

"Will  you  confer  on  me  the  favor,  Dr.  Magrath,"  said 
Sir  Gervaise,  in  a  gentle,  subdued  manner,  "to  ask  Captain 
Greenly  to  come  hither,  as  you  pass  the  flag-staff  ?" 

"  Most  willingly,  Sir  Jairvis  ;  and  I  know  he'll  be  any 
thing  but  backward  in  complying." 

It  was  not  long  ere  the  Captain  of  the  Plantagenet  made 
his  appearance.  Like  all  around  him,  the  recent  victory 
appeared  to  bring  no  exultation. 

"  I  suppose  Magrath  told  you  all  ?"  said  the  Vice-ad 
miral,  squeezing  the  other's  hand. 

"  He  gives  no  hopes,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  sincerely  regret  to 
say." 

"  I  knew  as  much  !  I  knew  as  much  !  and  yet  he  is  easy, 
Greenly — nay,  even  seems  happy.  I  did  feel  a  little  hope 
that  this  absence  from  suffering  might  be  a  favorable  omen." 


THE    7 'WO   ADMIRALS.  403 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  much,  sir  ;  for  I  have  been 
thinking  that  it  is  my  duty  to  speak  to  the  Rear-admiral 
on  the  subject  of  his  brother's  marriage.  From  his  own 
silence  on  the  subject,  it  is  possible — nay,  from  all  circum 
stances  it  is  probable  he  never  knew  of  it,  and  there  may 
be  reasons  \vhy  he  ought  to  be  informed  of  the  affair.  As 
you  say  he  is  so  easy,  would  there  be  an  impropriety  in 
mentioning  it  to  him  ?" 

Greenly  could  not  possibly  have  made  a  suggestion  that 
was  a  greater  favor  to  Sir  Gervaise.  The  necessity  of 
doing,  his  habits  of  decision,  and  having  an  object  in  view, 
contributed  to  relieve  his  mind  by  diverting  his  thoughts 
to  some  active  duty  ;  and  he  seized  his  hat,  beckoned  to 
Greenly  to  follow,  and  moved  across  the  hill  with  a  rapid 
pace,  taking  the  path  to  the  cottage.  It  was  necessary  to 
pass  the  flag-staff.  As  this  was  done,  every  countenance 
itiet  the  Vice-admiral's  glance  with  a  look  of  sincere  sym 
pathy.  The  bows  that  were  exchanged  had  more  in  them 
than  the  naked  courtesies  of  such  salutations  ;  they  were 
eloquent  of  feeling  on  both  sides. 

Bluewater  was  awake,  and  retaining  the  hand  of  Mildred 
affectionately  in  his  own,  when  his  friend  entered.  Re 
linquishing  his  hold,  however,  he  grasped  the  hand  of  the 
Vice-admiral,  and  looked  earnestly  at  him,  as  if  he  pitied 
the  sorrow  that  he  knew  the  survivor  must  feel. 

''My  dear  Blue\vater,"  commenced  Sir  Gervaise,  who 
acted  under  a  nervous  excitement,  as  well  as  from  consti 
tutional  decision,  "here  is  Greenly  with  something  to  tell 
you  that  we  both  think  you  ought  to  know,  at  a  moment 
like  this." 

The  Rear-admiral  regarded  his  friend  intently,  as  if  in 
viting  him  to  proceed. 

"  Why,  it's  about  your  brother  Jack.  I  fancy  you  can 
not  have  known  that  he  was  ever  married,  or  I  think  I 
should  have  heard  you  speak  of  it." 

"Married!"  repeated  Bluewater,  with  great  interest, 
and  speaking  with  very  little  difficulty.  "  I  think  that 
must  be  an  error.  Inconsiderate  and  warm-hearted  he 
was,  but  there  is  only  one  woman  he  could,  nay,  would  have 
married.  She  is  long  since  dead,  but  not  as  his  wTife  ;  for 
that  her  uncle,  a  man  of  great  wealth,  but  of  unbending 
will,  would  never  have  suffered.  He  survived  her,  though 
my  poor  brother  did  not." 


404  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

This  was  said  in  a  mild  voice,  for  the  wounded  man  spoke 
equally  without  effort,  and  without  pain. 

"You  hear,  Greenly?"  observed  Sir  Gervaise.  "And 
yet  it  is  not  probable  that  you  should  be  mistaken." 

"  Certainly,  I  am  not,  gentlemen.  I  saw  Colonel  Blue- 
water  married,  as  did  another  officer  who  is  at  this  moment 
in  this  very  fleet.  Captain  Blakely  is  the  person  I  mean, 
and  I  know  that  the  priest  who  performed  the  ceremony 
is  still  living,  a  beneficed  clergyman." 

"That  is  wonderful  to  me  !  He  fervently  loved  Agnes 
Hedworth,  but  his  poverty  was  an  obstacle  to  the  union  ; 
and  both  died  so  young,  that  there  was  little  opportunity 
of  conciliating  the  uncle." 

"  That,  sir,  is  your  mistake.  Agnes  Hedworth  was  the 
bride." 

A  noise  in  the  room  interrupted  the  dialogue,  and  the 
three  gentlemen  saw  Wycherly  and  Mildred  stooping  to 
pick  up  the  fragments  of  a  bowl  that  Mrs.  Button  had  let 
fall.  The  latter,  apparently  in  alarm  at  the  little  accident, 
had  sank  back  into  a  seat,  pale  and  trembling. 

"My  dear  Mrs.  Button,  take  a  glass  of  water,"  said  Sir 
Gervaise,  kindly  approaching  her;  "your  nerves  have 
been  sorely  tried  of  late  ;  else  would  not  such  a  trifle  affect 
you." 

"It  is  not  that!"  exclaimed  the  matron,  huskily.  "It 
is  not  that !  O  !  the  fearful  moment  has  come  at  last ;  and, 
from  my  inmost  spirit  I  thank  Thee,  my  Lord  and  my 
God,  that  it  has  come  free  from  shame  and  disgrace  ?" 

The  closing  words  were  uttered  on  bended  knees,  and 
with  uplifted  hands. 

"Mother!  dearest,  dearest,  mother,"  cried  Mildred,  fall 
ing  on  her  mother's  neck.  "  What  mean  you  ?  Tell  me, 
what  new  misery  has  happened  to-day  ? " 

"  Mother  !  Yes,  sweet  one,  thou  art,  thou  ever  shalt  be 
my  child  !  This  is  the  pang  I  have  most  dreaded  ;  but 
what  is  an  unknown  tie  of  blood,  to  us,  and  affection,  and 
to  a  mother's  care  ?  If  I  did  not  bear  thee,  Mildred,  no 
natural  mother  could  have  loved  thee  more,  or  would  have 
died  for  thee,  as  willingly  ! " 

"  Bistress  has  disturbed  her,  gentlemen,"  said  Mildred, 
gently  extricating  herself  from  her  mother's  arms,  and 
helping  her  to  rise.  "A  few  moments  of  rest  will  restore 
her." 

"  No,  darling ;  it  must  come  now — it  ought  to  come  now 


THE    TU'O   ADMIRALS.  405 

— after  what  I  have  just  heard,  it  would  be  unpardonable 
not  to  tell  it,  now.  Did  I  understand  you  to  say,  sir,  that 
you  were  present  at  the  marriage  of  Agnes  Hedworth,  and 
that,  too,  with  the  brother  of  Admiral  Bluewater  ?  " 

"Of  that  fact,  there  can  be  no  question,  madam.  I  and 
others  will  testify  to  it.  The  marriage  took  place  in  Lon 
don,  in  the  Summer  of  1725,  while  Blakely  and  myself  were 
up  from  Portsmouth,  on  leave.  Colonel  Bluewater  asked 
us  both  to  be  present,  under  a  pledge  of  secrecy." 

"And  in  the  Summer  of  1726  Agnes  Hedworth  died  in 
my  house  and  my  arms,  an  hour  after  giving  birth  to  this 
dear,  this  precious  child — Mildred  Button,  as  she  has  ever 
since  been  called — Mildred  Bluewater,  as  it  would  seem 
her  name  should  be." 

It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  on  the  surprise  with  which  all 
present,  or  the  delight  with  which  Bluewater  and  Wycherly 
heard  this  extraordinary  announcement.  A  cry  escaped 
Mildred,  who  threw  herself  on  Mrs.  Button's  neck,  en 
twining  it  with  her  arms,  convulsively,  as  if  refusing  to 
permit  the  tie  that  had  so  long  bound  them  together,  to  be 
thus  rudely  torn  asunder.  But  half  an  hour  of  weeping, 
and  of  the  tenderest  consolations,  calmed  the  poor  girl  a 
little,  and  she  was  able  to  listen  to  the  explanations.  These 
were  exceedingly  simple,  and  so  clear,  as,  in  connection 
with  the  other  evidence,  to  put  the  facts  out  of  all  doubt. 

Miss  Hedworth  had  become  known  to  Mrs.  Button, 
while  the  latter  was  an  intimate  in  the  house  of  her 
patron.  A  year  or  two  after  the  marriage  of  the  Lieuten 
ant,  and  while  he  was  on  a  distant  station,  Agnes  Hed 
worth  threw  herself  on  the  protection  of  his  wife,  asking 
a  refuge  for  a  woman  in  the  most  critical  circumstances. 
Like  all  who  knew  Agnes  Hedworth,  Mrs.  Button  both 
respected  and  loved  her  ;  but  the  distance  created  between 
them,  by  birth  and  station,  was  such  as  to  prevent  any 
confidence.  The  former,  for  the  few  days  passed  with  her 
humble  friend,  had  acted  with  the  quiet  dignity  of  a  wom 
an  conscious  of  no  wrong ;  and  no  questions  could  be 
asked  that  implied  doubts.  A  succession  of  fainting  fits 
prevented  all  communications  in  the  hour  of  death,  and 
Mrs.  Button  found  herself  left  with  a  child  on  her  hands, 
and  the  dead  body  of  her  friend.  Miss  Hedworth  had 
come  to  her  dwelling  unattended,  and  under  a  false  name. 
These  circumstances  induced  Mrs.  Button  to  apprehend 
the  worst,  and  she  proceeded  to  make  her  arrangements 


406  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

with  great  tenderness  for  the  reputation  of  the  deceased. 
The  body  was  removed  to  London,  and  letters  were  sent 
to  the  uncle  to  inform  him  where  it  was  to  be  found, 
with  a  reference,  should  he  choose  to  inquire  into  the 
circumstances  of  his  niece's  death.  Mrs.  Button  ascer 
tained  that  the  body  was  interred  in  the  usual  manner, 
but  no  inquiry  was  ever  made,  concerning  the  particulars. 
The  young  Duchess,  Miss  Hedworth's  sister,  was  then 
travelling  in  Italy,  whence  she  did  not  return  for  more 
than  a  year  ;  and  we  may  add,  though  Mrs.  Button  was 
unable  to  make  the  explanation,  that  her  inquiries  after 
the  fate  of  a  beloved  sister,  were  met  by  a  simple  state 
ment  that  she  had  died  suddenly,  on  a  visit  to  a  watering- 
place,  whither  she  had  gone  with  a  female  friend  for  her 
health.  Whether  Mr.  Hedworth  himself  had  any  suspi 
cions  of  his  niece's  condition,  is  uncertain  ;  but  the  prob 
abilities  were  against  it,  for  she  had  offended  him  by  re 
fusing  a  match  in  all  respects  equal  to  that  made  by  her  elder 
sister,  with  the  single  exception  that  the  latter  had  married 
a  man  she  loved,  whereas  he  exacted  of  Agnes  a  very  dif 
ferent  sacrifice.  Owing  to  the  alienation  produced  by 
this  affair,  there  was  little  communication  between  the 
uncle  and  niece  ;  the  latter  passing  her  time  in  retirement 
and  professedly  with  friends  that  the  former  neither  knew 
nor  cared  to  know.  In  short,  such  was  the  mode  of  life 
of  the  respective  parties,  that  nothing  was  easier  than  for 
the  unhappy  young  wridow  to  conceal  her  state  from  her 
uncle.  The  motive  wras  the  fortune  of  the  expected  child  ; 
this  uncle  having  it  in  his  power  to  alienate  from  it,  by 
will,  if  he  saw  fit,  certain  family  property,  that  might 
otherwise  descend  to  the  issue  of  the  two  sisters,  as  his  co 
heiresses.  What  might  have  happened  in  the  end,  or  what 
poor  Agnes  meditated  doing,  can  never  be  known  ;  death 
closing  the  secret  with  his  irremovable  seal. 

Mrs.  Button  was  the  mother  of  a  girl  but  three  months 
old,  at  the  time  this  little  stranger  was  left  on  her  hands. 
A  few  weeks  later  her  own  child  died  ;  and  having  waited 
several  months  in  vain  for  tidings  from  the  Hedworth 
family,  she  had  the  surviving  infant  christened  by  the 
same  name  as  that  borne  by  her  own  daughter,  and  soon 
came  to  love  it,  as  much,  perhaps,  as  if  she  had  borne  it. 
Three  years  passed  in  this  manner,  when  the  time  grew 
near  for  the  return  of  her  husband  from  the  East  Indies. 
To  be  ready  to  meet  him,  she  changed  her  abode  to  a  naval 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  407 

port,  and,  in  so  doing,  changed  her  domestics.  This  left 
her  accidentally,  but  fortunately,  as  she  afterward  thought, 
completely  mistress  of  the  secret  of  Mildred's  birth;  the 
one  or  two  others  to  whom  it  was  known  being  in  stations 
to  render  it  improbable  they  should  ever  communicate  any 
thing  on  the  subject,  unless  it  was  asked  of  them.  Her  orig 
inal  intention,  however,  was  to  communicate  the  fact,  with 
out  reserve,  to  her  husband.  But  he  came  back  an  altered 
man  ;  brutal  in  manners,  cold  in  his  affections,  and  the 
victim  of  drunkenness.  By  this  time,  the  wife  was  too  much 
attached  to  the  child  to  think  of  exposing  it  to  the  way 
ward  caprices  of  such  a  being  ;  and  Mildred  was  educated, 
and  grew  in  stature  and  beauty  as  the  real  offspring  of 
her  reputed  parents. 

All  this  Mrs.  Button  related  clearly  and  briefly,  refrain 
ing,  of  course,  from  making  any  allusion  to  the  conduct 
of  her  husband,  and  referring  all  her  own  benevolence  to 
attachment  to  the  child.  Bluewater  had  strength  enough 
to  receive  Mildred  in  his  arms,  and  he  kissed  her  pale 
cheek,  again  and  again,  blessing  her  in  the  most  fervent 
and  solemn  manner. 

"My  feelings  were  not  treacherous  or  unfaithful,"  he 
said  ;  "  I  loved  thee  sweetest,  from  the  first.  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes  has  my  will,  made  in  thy  favor,  before  we  sailed  on 
this  last  cruise,  and  every  shilling  I  leave  will  be  thine. 
Mr.  Atwood,  procure  that  will,  and  add  a  codicil  explain 
ing  this  recent  discovery,  and  confirming  the  legacy  ;  let 
not  the  last  be  touched,  for  it  is  spontaneous  and  comes 
from  the  heart." 

"And  now,"  answered  Mrs.  Button,  "  enough  has  passed 
for  once.  The  sick-bed  should  be  more  quiet.  Give  me 
my  child,  again  ;  I  cannot  yet  consent  to  part  with  her  for 
ever." 

"Mother!  mother!"  exclaimed  Mildred,  throwing  her 
self  on  Mrs.  Button's  bosom,  "  I  am  yours,  and  yours 
only." 

"  Not  so,  I  fear,  Mildred,  if  all  I  suspect  be  true,  and 
this  is  as  proper  a  moment  as  another  to  place  that  mat 
ter  also  before  your  honored  uncle.  Come  forward,  Sir 
Wycherly  ;  I  have  understood  you  to  say,  this  minute,  in 
my  ear,  that  you  hold  the  pledge  of  this  wilful  girl  to  be 
come  your  wife,  should  she  ever  become  an  orphan.  An 
orphan  she  is,  and  has  been  since  the  first  hour  of  her 
birth." 


4o8  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

"No — no,"  murmured  Mildred,  burying  her  face  still 
deeper  in  her  mother's  bosom,  "not  while  you  live,  can  I 
be  an  orphan.  Not  now — another  time  ;  this  is  unseason 
able — cruel  ;  nay,  it  is  not  what  I  said." 

"  Take  her  away,  dearest  Mrs.  Dutton,"  said  Bluewater, 
tears  of  joy  forcing  themselves  from  his  eyes.  "  Take  her 
away,  lest  too  much  happiness  comes  upon  me  at  once. 
My  thoughts  should  be  calmer  at  such  a  moment." 

Wycherly  removed  Mildred  from  her  mother's  arms, 
and  gently  led  her  from  the  room.  When  in  Mrs.  But 
ton's  apartment,  he  whispered  something  in  the  ear  of  the 
agitated  girl  that  caused  her  to  turn  on  him  a  look  of 
happiness,  though  it  came  dimmed  with  tears  ;  then  he  had 
his  turn  of  holding  her,  for  another  precious  instant,  to 
his  heart. 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  Dutton — nay,  my  dear  mother,"  he  said, 
"  Mildred  and  myself  have  both  need  of  parents.  I  am  an 
orphan  like  herself,  and  we  can  never  consent  to  part  with 
you.  Look  forward,  I  entreat  you,  to  making  one  of  our 
family  in  all  things,  for  never  can  Mildred  or  myself  cease 
to  consider  you  as  a  parent  entitled  to  more  than  common 
reverence  and  affection." 

Wycherly  had  hardly  uttered  this  proper  speech,  when 
he  received  what  he  fancied  a  tenfold  reward.  Mildred, 
in  a  burst  of  natural  feeling,  without  affectation  or  reserve, 
but  yielding  to  her  heart  only,  threw  her  arms  around  his 
neck,  murmured  the  word  "Thanks"  several  times,  and 
wept  freely  on  his  bosom.  When  Mrs.  Dutton  received 
the  sobbing  girl  from  him,  Wycherly  kissed  the  mother's 
cheek,  and  he  left  the  room. 

Admiral  Bluewater  would  not  consent  to  seek  his  re 
pose  until  he  had  a  private  conference  with  his  friend  and 
Wycherly.  The  latter  was  frankness  and  liberality  itself, 
but  the  former  would  not  wait  for  settlements.  These  he 
trusted  to  the  young  man's  honor.  His  own  time  was 
short,  and  he  should  die  perfectly  happy  could  he  leave 
his  niece  in  the  care  of  one  like  our  Virginian.  He  wished 
the  marriage  to  take  place  in  his  presence.  On  this,  he 
even  insisted,  and,  of  course,  Wycherly  made  no  objec 
tions,  but  went  to  state  the  case  to  Mrs.  Dutton  and 
Mildred. 

"  It  is  singular,  Dick,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  wiping  his 
eyes,  as  he  looked  from  a  window  that  commanded  a  view 
of  the  sea,  "  that  I  have  left  both  our  flags  flying  in  the 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  409 

Caesar  !     I  declare,  the  oddness  of  the  circumstance  never 
struck  me  till  this  minute." 

"  Let  them  float  thus  a  little  longer,  Gervaise.  They 
have  faced  many  a  gale  and  many  a  battle  together,  and 
may  endure  each  other's  company  a  few  hours  longer." 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Compound  of  weakness  and  of  strength, 

Mighty,  yet  ignorant  of  thy  power  ! 
Loftier  than  earth,  or  air,  or  sea, 

Yet  meaner  than  the  lowliest  flower ! 

— MARGARET  DAVIDSON. 

NOT  a  syllable  of  explanation,  reproach,  or  self-accusation 
had  passed  between  the  Commander-in-chief  and  the  Rear- 
admiral,  since  the  latter  received  his  wound.  Each  party 
appeared  to  blot  out  the  events  of  the  last  few  days,  leav 
ing  the  long  vista  of  their  past  services  and  friendship  un- 
disfigured  by  a  single  unsightly  or  unpleasant  object.  Sir 
Gervaise,  while  he  retained  an  active  superintendence  of 
his  fleet,  and  issued  the  necessary  orders  right  and  left, 
hovered  around  the  bed  of  Bluewater  with  the  assiduity 
and  almost  with  the  tenderness  of  a  woman  ;  still  not  the 
slightest  allusion  was  made  to  the  recent  battles,  or  to  any 
thing  that  had  occurred  in  the  short  cruise.  The  speech 
recorded  at  the  close  of  the  last  chapter  was  the  first 
words  he  had  uttered  which  might,  in  any  manner,  carry 
the  rnind  of  either  back  to  events  that  both  might  wish 
forgotten.  The  Rear-admiral  felt  this  forbearance  deeply, 
and  now  that  the  subject  was  thus  accidentally  broached 
between  them,  he  had  a  desire  to  say  something  in  contin 
uation.  Still  he  waited  until  the  Baronet  had  left  the  win 
dow  and  taken  a  seat  by  his  bed. 

"  Gervaise,"  Bluewater  then  commenced,  speaking  low 
from  weakness,  but  speaking  distinctly  from  feeling,  "  I 
cannot  die  without  asking  your  forgiveness.  There  were 
several  hours  when  I  actually  meditated  treason — I  will 
not  say  to  my  king  ;  on  that  point  my  opinions  are  un 
changed — but  to  you." 

"  Why  speak  of  this,  Dick  ?  You  did  not  know  yourself 
when  you  believed  it  possible  to  desert  me  in  the  face  of 
the  enemy.  How  much  better  I  judged  of  your  character, 
is  seen  in  the  fact  that  I  did  not  hesitate  to  engage  double 


4io  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

my  force,  well  knowing  that  you  could  not  fail  to  come  to 
my  rescue." 

Bluewater  looked  intently  at  his  friend,  and  a  smile  of 
serious  satisfaction  passed  over  his  pallid  countenance  as 
he  listened  to  Sir  Gervaise's  words,  which  were  uttered 
with  his  usual  warmth  and  sincerity  of  manner. 

"  I  believe  you  know  me  better  than  I  know  myself," 
he  answered,  after  a  thoughtful  pause  ;  "yes,  better  than 
I  know  myself.  What  a  glorious  close  to  our  professional 
career  would  it  have  been,  Oakes,  had  I  followed  you  into 
battle,  as  was  our  old  practice,  and  fallen  in  your  wake, 
imitating  your  own  high  example  !  " 

"  It  is  better  as  it  is,  Dick — if  anything  that  has  so  sad  a 
termination  can  be  well — yes,  it  is  better  as  it  is  ;  you  have 
fallen  at  my  side,  as  it  were.  We  will  think  or  talk  no 
more  of  this." 

"  We  have  been  friends,  and  close  friends  too,  for  a  long 
period,  Gervaise,"  returned  Bluewater,  stretching  his  arm 
from  the  bed,  with  the  long,  thin  fingers  of  the  hand  ex 
tended  to  meet  the  other's  grasp  ;  "  yet,  I  cannot  recall  an 
act  of  yours  which  I  can  justly  lay  to  heart,  as  unkind,  or 
untrue." 

"  God  forgive  me,  if  you  can — I  hope  not,  Dick  ;  most 
sincerely  do  I  hope  not.  It  would  give  me  great  pain  to 
believe  it." 

"  You  have  no  cause  for  self-reproach.  In  no  one  act  or 
thought  can  you  justly  accuse  yourself  with  injuring  me. 
I  should  die  much  happier  if  I  could  say  the  same  of  my 
self,  Oakes ! " 

"  Thought,  Dick  ?  Thought !  You  never  meditated 
aught  against  me  in  your  whole  life.  The  love  you  bear 
me  is  the  true  reason  why  you  lie  there,  at  this  blessed 
moment." 

"  It  is  grateful  to  find  that  I  have  been  understood.  I 
am  deeply  indebted  to  you,  Oakes,  for  declining  to  signal 
me  and  my  division  down,  when  I  foolishly  requested  that 
untimely  forbearance.  I  was  then  suffering  an  anguish  of 
mind  to  which  any  pain  of  the  body  I  may  now  endure,  is 
an  elysium  ;  your  self-denial  gave  time " 

"  For  the  heart  to  prompt  you  to  that  which  your  feel 
ings  yearned  to  do  from  the  first,  Bluewater,"  interrupted 
Sir  Gervaise.  "  And,  now,  as  your  commanding  officer,  I 
enjoin  silence  on  this  subject  for  ever." 

"I   will  endeavor  to  obey.     It  will  not  be  long,  Oakes, 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  411 

that  I  shall  remain  under  your  orders,"  added  the  Rear- 
admiral,  with  a  painful  smile.  "There  should  be  no  charge 
of  mutiny  against  me  in  the  last  act  of  my  life.  You  ought 
to  forgive  the  one  sin  of  omission  when  you  remember  how 
much  and  how  completely  my  will  has  been  subject  to 
yours,  during  the  last  five-and-thirty  years — how  little  my 
mind  has  matured  a  professional  thought  that  yours  has 
not  originated  !" 

"Speak  no  more  of  'forgive,'  I  charge  you,  Dick.  That 
you  have  shown  a  girl-like  docility  in  obeying  my  orders, 
too,  is  a  truth  I  will  aver  before  God  and  man  ;  but  when 
it  comes  to  mind,  I  am  far  from  asserting  that  mine  has 
had  the  mastery. .  I  do  believe,  could  the  truth  be  ascer 
tained,  it  would  be  found  that  I  am,  at  this  blessed  moment 
enjoying  a  professional  reputation,  which  is  more  than  half 
due  to  you." 

"  It  matters  little  now,  Gervaise — it  matters  little,  now. 
We  were  two  light-hearted  and  gay  lads,  Oakes,  when  we 
first  met  as  boys,  fresh  from  school,  and  merry  as  health 
and  spirits  could  make  us." 

"We  were,  indeed,  Dick  !  yes,  we  were  ;  thoughtless  as 
if  this  sad  moment  were  never  to  arrive." 

"  There  were  George  Anson  and  Peter  Warren,  little 
Charley  Saunders,  Jack  Byng,  and  a  set  of  us  that  did,  in 
deed,  live  as  if  we  were  never  to  die  !  We  carried  our  lives, 
as  it  might  be,  in  our  hands,  Oakes  !" 

"  There  is  much  of  that,  Dick,  in  boyhood  and  youth. 
But  he  is  happiest,  after  all,  who  can  meet  this  moment  as 
you  do — calmly  and  yet  without  any  dependence  on  his 
own  merits." 

"  I  had  an  excellent  mother,  Oakes  !  Little  do  we  think 
in  youth,  how  much  we  owe  to  the  unextinguishable  ten 
derness,  and  far-seeing  lessons  of  our  mothers  !  Ours  both 
died  while  we  were  young,  yet  I  do  think  we  were  their 
debtors  for  far  more  than  we  could  ever  repay." 

Sir  Gervaise  simply  assented,  but  making  no  immediate 
answer,  otherwise,  a  long  pause  succeeded,  during  which 
the  Vice-admiral  fancied  that  his  friend  was  beginning  to 
doze.  He  was  mistaken. 

"  You  will  be  made  Viscount  Bowldero,  for  these  last  af 
fairs,  Gervaise,"  the  wounded  man  unexpectedly  observed, 
showing  how  much  his  thoughts  were  still  engrossed  with 
the  interests  of  his  friend.  "  Nor  do  I  see  why  you  should 
again  refuse  a  peerage.  Those  who  remain  in  this  world 


412  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

may  well  yield  to  its  usages  and  opinions,  while  they  do 
not  interfere  with  higher  obligations." 

"  I  !"  exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise,  gloomily.  "The  thought 
of  so  commemorating  what  has  happened  would  be  worse 
than  defeat  to  me  !  No,  I  ask  no  change  of  name  to  remind 
me  constantly  of  my  loss  !  " 

Bluewater  looked  grateful,  rather  than  pleased  ;  but  he 
made  no  answer.  Now,  he  fell  into  a  light  slumber,  from 
which  he  did  not  awake  until  the  time  he  had  himself  set 
for  the  marriage  of  Wycherly  and  Mildred.  With  one 
uncle  dead  and  still  un buried,  and  another  about  to  quit 
the  world  forever,  a  rite  that  is  usually  deemed  as  joyous 
as  it  is  solemn,  might  seem  unseasonable  ;  but  the  dying 
man  had  made  it  a  request  that  he  might  have  the  con 
solation  of  knowing  ere  he  expired,  that  he  left  his  niece 
under  the  legal  protection  of  one  as  competent  as  he  was 
desirous  of  protecting  her.  The  reader  must  imagine  the 
arguments  that  were  used  for  the  occasion,  but  they  were 
such  as  disposed  all,  in  the  end,  to  admit  the  propriety  of 
yielding  their  ordinary  prejudices  to  the  exigencies  of  the 
moment.  It  may  be  well  to  add,  also,  to  prevent  useless 
cavilling,  that  the  laws  of  England  were  not  as  rigid  on  the 
subject  of  the  celebration  of  marriages  in  1744,  as  they 
subsequently  became  ;  and  that  it  was  lawful  then  to  per 
form  the  ceremony  in  a  private  house  without  a  license 
and  without  the  publishing  of  bans,  even  ;  restrictions  that 
were  imposed  a  few  years  later.  The  penalty  for  dispens 
ing  with  the  publication  of  bans,  was  a  fine  of  ^100,  im 
posed  on  the  clergyman  ;  and  this  fine  Bluewater  chose  to 
pay,  rather  than  leave  the  only  great  object  of  life  that  now 
remained  before  him  unaccomplished.  This  penalty  in  no 
degree  impaired  the  validitv  of  the  contract,  though  Mrs. 
Button,  as  a  woman,  felt  averse  to  parting  with  "her  be 
loved,  without  a  rigid  observance  of  all  the  customary 
forms.  The  point  had  finally  been  disposed  of,  by  recourse 
to  arguments  addressed  to  the  reason  of  this  respectable 
woman,  and  by  urging  the  necessity  of  the  case.  Her  con 
sent,  however,  was  not  given  without  a  proviso,  that  a 
license  should  be  subsequently  procured,  and  a  second 
marriage  be  had  at  a  fitting  moment,  should  the  ecclesias 
tical  authorities  consent  to  the  same  ;  a  most  improbable 
thing  in  itself. 

Mr.  Rotherham  availed  himself  of  the  statute  inflicting 
the  penalty,  as  an  excuse  for  not  officiating.  His  real 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  413 

motive,  however,  was  understood,  and  the  Chaplain  of  the 
Plantagenet,  a  divine  of  character  and  piety,  was  substi 
tuted  in  his  place.  Bluewater  had  requested  that  as  many 
of  the  captams  of  the  fleet  should  be  present  as  could  be 
collected,  and  it  was  the  assembling  of  these  warriors  of 
the  deep,  together  with  the  arrival  of  the  clergyman, 
that  first  gave  notice  of  the  approach  of  the  appointed 
hour. 

It  is  not  our  intention  to  dwell  on  the  details  in  a  cere 
mony  that  had  so  much  that  was  painful  in  its  solemnities. 
Neither  Wycherly  nor  Mildred  made  any  change  in  their 
attire,  and  the  lovely  bride  wept  from  the  time  the  service 
began,  to  the  moment  when  she  had  left  the  arms  of  her 
uncle,  to  be  received  in  those  of  her  husband,  and  was  sup 
ported  from  the  room.  All  seemed  sad,  indeed,  but  Blue- 
water  ;  to  him  the  scene  was  exciting,  but  it  brought  great 
relief  to  his  mind. 

"I  am  now  ready  to  die,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  as  the 
door  closed  on  the  ne\v-married  couple.  "  My  last  worldly 
care  is  disposed  of,  and  it  were  better  for  me  to  turn  all 
my  thoughts  to  another  state  of  being.  My  niece,  Lady 
Wychecombe,  will  inherit  the  little  I  have  to  leave  ;  nor  do 
I  know  that  it  is  of  much  importance  to  substantiate  her 
birth,  as  her  uncle  clearly  bestowed  what  would  have  been 
her  mother's  property,  on  her  aunt,  the  duchess.  If  my 
dying  declaration  can  be  of  any  use,  however,  you  hear  it, 
and  can  testify  to  it.  Now,  come  and  take  leave  of  me,  one 
by  one,  that  I  may  bless  you  all,  and  thank  you  for  much 
undeserved,  and,  I  fear,  unrequited  love." 

The  scene  that  followed  was  solemn  and  sad.  One  by 
one,  the  captains  drew  near  the  bed,  and  to  each  the  dying 
man  had  something  kind  and  affectionate  to  say.  Even 
the  most  cold-hearted  looked  grave,  and  O'Neil,  a  man 
remarkable  for  a  gaite  de  c&ur  that  rendered  the  excitement 
of  battle  some  of  the  pleasantest  moments  of  his  life,  liter 
ally  shed  tears  on  the  hand  he  kissed. 

"Ah!  my  old  friend,"  said  the  Rear-admiral,  as  Parker, 
of  the  Carnatic,  drew  near  in  his  customary  meek  and 
subdued  manner,  "you  perceive  it  is  not  years  alone  that 
bring  us  to  our  graves  !  They  tell  me  you  have  behaved  as 
usual  in  these  late  affairs  ;  I  trust  that^  after  a  long  life  of 
patient  and  arduous  services,  you  are  about  to  receive  a 
proper  reward." 

"  I    will   acknowledge,    Admiral    Bluewater,"    returned 


414  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

Parker,  earnestly,  "  that  it  would  be  peculiarly  grateful  to 
receive  some  mark  of  the  approbation  of  my  sovereign  ; 
principally  on  account  of  my  dear  wife  and  children.  We 
are  not,  like  yourself,  descended  from  a  noble  family  ;  but 
must  carve  our  rights  to  distinction,  and  they  who  have 
never  known  honors  of  this  nature,  prize  them  highly." 

"Aye,  my  good  Parker,"  interrupted  the  Rear-admiral, 
"and  they  who  have  ever  known  them,  know  their  empti 
ness  ;  most  especially  as  they  approach  that  verge  of  exist 
ence  whence  the  eye  looks  in  a  near  and  fearful  glance 
over  the  vast  and  unknown  range  of  eternity." 

"  No  doubt,  sir  ;  nor  am  I  so  vain  as  to  suppose  that 
hairs  which  have  got  to  be  gray  as  mine,  can  last  forever. 
But,  what  I  was  about  to  say  is,  that  precious  as  honors 
are  to  the  humble,  I  would  cheerfully  yield  every  hope  of 
the  sort  I  have,  to  see  you  on  the  poop  of  the  Caesar  again, 
with  Mr.  Cornet  at  your  elbow,  leading  the  lieet,  or  fol 
lowing  the  motions  of  the  Vice-admiral." 

"Thank  you,  my  good  Parker  ;  that  can  never  be  ;  nor 
can 'I  say,  now,  that  I  wish  it  might.  When  we  have  cast 
off  from  the  world,  there  is  less  pleasure  in  looking  back 
than  in  looking  ahead.  God  bless  you,  Parker,  and  keep 
you,  as  you  have  ever  been,  an  honest  man." 

Stowel  was  the  last  to  approach  the  bed,  nor  did  he  do 
it  until  all  had  left  the  room  but  Sir  Gervaise  and  himself. 
The  indomitable  good-nature,  and  the  professional  non 
chalance  of  Bluewater,  by  leaving  every  subordinate  un 
disturbed  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  own  personal  caprices, 
had  rendered  the  Rear-admiral  a  greater  favorite,  in  one 
sense  at  least,  than  the  Commander-in-chief.  Stowel,  by 
his  near  connection  with  Bluewater,  had  profited  more  by 
these  peculiarities  than  any  other  officer  under  him,  and 
the  effect  on  his  feelings  had  been  in  a  very  just  propor 
tion  to  the  benefits.  He  could  not  refrain,  it  is  true,  from 
remembering  the  day  when  he  himself  had  been  a  lieuten 
ant  in  the  ship  in  which  the  Rear-admiral  had  been  a  mid 
shipman,  but  he  no  longer  recollected  the  circumstance 
with  the  bitterness  that  it  sometimes  drew  after  it.  On 
the  contrary,  it  was  now  brought  to  his  mind  merely  as 
the  most  distant  of  the  many  landmarks  in  their  long  and 
joint  services. 

"Well,  Stowel,"  observed  Bluewater,  smiling  sadly, 
"even  the  old  Caesar  must  be  left  behind.  It  is  seldom  a 
flag-captain  has  not  some  heart-burnings  on  account  of 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  415 

his  superior,  and  most  sincerely  I  beg  you  to  forget  and 
forgive  any  I  may  have  occasioned  yourself." 

"  Heaven  help  me,  sir  !  I  was  far,  just  then,  from  think 
ing  of  any  such  thing  !  I  was  fancying  how  little  I  should 
have  thought  it  probable,  when  we  were  together  in  the 
Calypso,  that  I  should  ever  be  thus  standing  at  your  bed 
side.  Really,  Admiral  Bluewater,  I  would  rejoice  to  share 
with  you  the  remnant  of  life  that  is  left  me." 

"  I  do  believe  you  would,  Stowel ;  but  that  can  never  be. 
I  have  just  performed  my  last  act  in  this  world,  in  giving 
my  niece  to  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe." 

"Yes,  sir — yes,  sir — marriage  is  no  doubt  honorable,  as 
I  often  tell  Mrs.  Stowel,  and  therefore  not  to  be  despised ; 
and  yet  it  is  singular  that  a  gentleman  who  has  lived  a 
bachelor  himself  should  fancy  to  see  a  marriage  ceremony 
performed,  and  that,  too,  at  the  cost  of  ^"100,  if  any  per 
son  choose  to  complain,  just  at  the  close  of  his  own  cruise  ! 
However,  men  are  no  more  alike  in  such  matters  than 
women  in  their  domestic  qualities  ;  and  I  sincerely  hope 
this  young  Sir  Wycherly  may  find  as  much  comfort  in  the 
old  house  I  understand  he  has  a  little  inland  here,  as  you 
and  I  have  had  together,  sir,  in  the  old  Caesar.  I  suppose 
there'll  be  no  co-equals  in  Wychecombe  Hall?" 

"  I  trust  not,  Stowel.  But  you  must  now  receive  my 
last  orders,  as  to  the  Caesar — 

"  The  Commander-in-chief  has  his  own  flag  flying  aboard 
of  us,  sir!"  interrupted  the  methodical  Captain,  in  a  sort 
of  admonitory  way. 

''Never  mind  that,  Stowel  ;  I'll  answer  for  his  acquies 
cence.  My  body  must  be  received  on  board  and  carried 
round  in  the  ship  to  Plymouth.  Place  it  on  the  main- 
deck,  where  the  people  can  see  the  coffin  ;  I  would  pass 
my  last  hours  above  ground,  in  their  midst." 

"  It  shall  be  done,  sir — yes,  sir,  to  the  letter,  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  not  countermanding.  And  I'll  write  this  evening  to 
Mrs.  Stowel  to  say  she  needn't  come  down,  as  usual,  as 
soon  as  she  hears  the  ship  is  in,  but  that  she  must  wait 
until  your  flag  is  fairly  struck." 

"  I  should  be  sorry,  Stowel,  to  cause  a  moment's  delay 
in  the  meeting  of  husband  and  wife  !  " 

"Don't  name  it,  Admiral  Bluewater;  Mrs.  Stowel  will 
understand  that  it's  duty  ;  and  wyhen  wre  married,  I  fully  ex 
plained  to  her  that  duty,  w7ith  a  sailor,  came  before  matri 
mony." 


4i6  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

A  little  pause  succeeded,  then  Bluevvater  took  a  final 
and  affectionate  leave  of  his  captain.  Some  twenty  min 
utes  elapsed  in  profound  silence,  during  which  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  did  not  stir,  fancying  that  his  friend  again  dozed. 
But  it  was  ordered  that  Bluewater  was  never  to  sleep 
again,  until  he  took  the  final  rest  of  the  dead.  It  was  the 
mind,  which  had  always  blazed  above  the  duller  lethargy 
of  his  body,  that  buoyed  him  thus  up,  giving  an  unnatural 
impulse  to  his  physical  powers ;  an  impulse,  however, 
that  was  but  momentary,  and  which,  by  means  of  the  re 
action,  contributed  in  the  end  to  his  more  speedy  dissolu 
tion.  Perceiving  at  length  that  his  friend  did  not  sleep, 
Sir  Gervaise  drew  near  his  bed. 

"  Richard,"  he  said,  gently,  "there  is  one  without,  who 
pines  to  be  admitted.  I  have  refused  even  his  tears,  un 
der  the  impression  that  you  felt  disposed  to  sleep." 

"  Never  less  so.  My  mind  appears  to  become  brighter 
and  clearer,  instead  of  fading  ;  1  think  I  shall  never  sleep, 
in  the  sense  you  mean.  Whoever  the  person  is,  let  him 
be  admitted." 

Receiving  this  permission,  Sir  Gervaise  opened  the  door, 
and  Geoffrey  Cleveland  entered.  At  the  same  moment, 
Galleygo  who  came  and  went  at  pleasure,  thrust  in  his 
own  ungainly  form.  The  boy's  face  betrayed  the  nature 
and  the  extent  of  his  grief.  In  his  mind,  Admiral  Blue- 
water  was  associated  with  all  the  events  of  his  own  profes 
sional  life  ;  and,  though  the  period  had  in  truth  been  so 
short,  in  his  brief  existence,  the  vista  through  which  he 
looked  back  seemed  quite  as  long  as  that  which  marked 
the  friendship  of  the  two  Admirals  themselves.  Although 
he  struggled  manfully  for  self-control,  feelings  got  the 
better  of  the  lad,  and  he  threw  himself  on  his  knees,  at 
the  side  of  his  bed,  sobbing  as  if  his  heart  would  break. 
Bluewater's  eye  glistened,  and  he  laid  a  hand  affectionately 
on  the  head  of  his  young  relative. 

"  Gervaise,  you  will  take  charge  of  this  boy,  when  I'm 
gone,"  he  said  ;  "  receive  him  in  your  own  ship.  I  leave 
him  to  you  as  a  near  and  very  dear  professional  legacy. 
Cheer  up — cheer  up,  my  brave  boy  ;  look  upon  all  this  as 
a  sailor's  fortune.  Our  lives  are  the— 

The  word  "  king's,"  which  should  have  succeeded,  seemed 
to  choke  the  speaker.  Casting  a  glance  of  meaning  at  his 
friend,  with  a  painful  smile  on  his  face,  he  continued 
silent. 


THE    TIVO   ADMIRALS.  417 

"Ah  !  dear  sir,"  answered  the  midshipman  ingenuously  ; 
"  I  knew  that  we  might  all  be  killed,  but  it  never  occurred 
to  me  that  an  Admiral  could  lose  his  life  in  battle.  I'm 
sure — I'm  sure  you  are  the  very  first  that  has  met  with  this 
accident  ! " 

"  Not  by  many,  my  poor  Geoffrey.  As  there  are  but 
few  admirals,  few  fall  ;  but  we  are  as  much  exposed  as 
others." 

"If  I  had  only  run  that  Monsieur  des  Prez  through  the 
body,  when  we  closed  with  him,"  returned  the  boy,  grating 
his  teeth,  and  looking  all  the  vengeance  for  which,  at  the 
passing  instant,  he  felt  the  desire,  "  it  would  have  been 
something !  I  might  have  done  it,  too,  for  he  was  quite 
unguarded  ! " 

"  It  would  have  been  a  very  bad  thing,  boy,  to  have  in 
jured  a  brave  man,  uselessly." 

"  Of  what  use  was  it  to  shoot  you,  sir  ?  We  took  their 
ship,  just  the  same  as  if  you  had  not  been  hurt." 

"  I  rather  think,  Geoffrey,  their  ship  was  virtually  taken 
before  I  was  wounded,"  returned  Bluewater,  smiling. 
"  But  I  was  shot  by  a  French  marine,  who  did  no  more 
than  his  duty." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  exclaimed  the  boy,  impatiently  ;  "  and  he  es 
caped  without  a  scratch.  He,  at  least,  ought  to  have  been 
massacred." 

"Thou  art  bloody-minded,  child;  I  scarce  know  thee. 
Massacred  is  not  a  word  for  either  a  British  nobleman  or 
a  British  sailor.  I  saved  the  life  of  that  marine  ;  and, 
when  you  come  to  lie,  like  me,  on  your  death-bed,  Geof 
frey,  you  will  learn  how  sweet  a  consolation  can  be  derived 
from  the  consciousness  of  such  an  act ;  we  all  need  mercy, 
and  none  ought  to  expect  it,  for  themselves,  who  do  not 
yield  it  to  others." 

The  boy  wras  rebuked,  and  his  feelings  took  a  better, 
though  scarcely  a  more  natural  direction.  Bluewater  now 
spoke  to  him  of  his  newly-discovered  cousin,  and  had  a 
melancholy  satisfaction  in  creating  an  interest  in  behalf  of 
Mildred,  in  the  breast  of  the  noble-hearted  and  ingenuous 
boy.  The  latter  listened  with  respectful  attention,  as  had 
been  his  wont,  until,  deceived  by  the  tranquil  and  benev 
olent  manner  of  Bluewater,  he  permitted  himself  to  fall 
into  the  natural  delusion  of  believing  the  wound  of  the 
Rear-admiral  less  serious  than  he  had  supposed,  and  to 
begin  to  entertain  hopes  that  the  wounded  man  might  yet 
27 


4i8  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

survive.  Calmed  by  these  feelings,  he  soon  ceased  to 
weep  ;  and,  promising  discretion,  was  permitted  by  Sir 
Gervaise  to  remain  in  the  room,  where  he  busied  himself 
in  the  offices  of  a  nurse. 

Another  long  pause  succeeded  this  exciting  little  scene, 
during  which  Bluewater  lay  quietly  communing  with  him 
self  and  his  God.  Sir  Gervaise  wrote  orders,  and  read  re 
ports,  though  his  eye  wras  never  off  the  countenance  of  his 
friend  more  than  a  minute  or  two  at  a  time.  At  length, 
the  Rear-admiral  aroused  himself  again,  and  began  to  take 
an  interest  once  more  in  the  persons  and  things  around 
him. 

"  Galleygo,  my  old  fellow-cruiser,"  he  said,  "I  leave 
Sir  Gervaise  more  particularly  to  your  care.  As  we  ad 
vance  in  life,  our  friends  decrease  in  numbers  ;  it  is  only 
those  that  have  been  well  tried  that  we  can  rely  on." 

"  Yes,  Admiral  Blue,  I  know  that,  and  so  does  Sir  Jarvey. 
Yes,  old  shipmates  afore  young  'uns,  any  day,  and  old 
sailors,  too,  afore  green  hands.  Sir  Jarvey's  Bowlderos 
are  good  plate-holders,  and  the  likes  of  that  ;  but  when  it 
comes  to  heavy  weather  and  a  hard  strain,  I  thinks  but 
little  on  em,  all  put  together." 

"  By  the  way,  Oakes,"  said  Bluewater,  with  a  sudden  in 
terest  in  such  a  subject  that  he  never  expected  to  feel 
again,  "  I  have  heard  nothing  of  the  first  day's  work,  in 
which,  through  the  little  I  have  gleaned  by  listening  to 
those  around  me,  I  understand  you  took  a  two-decker, 
besides  dismasting  the  French  Admiral  ?" 

"  Pardon  me,  Dick  ;  you  had  better  try  and  catch  a  little 
sleep  ;  the  subject  of  those  days'  work  is  really  painful  to 
me." 

"  Well,  then,  Sir  Jarvey,  if  you  have  an  aversion  to  telling 
the  story  to  Admiral  Blue,  I  can  do  it,  your  honor,"  put 
in  Galleygo,  who  gloried  in  giving  a  graphic  description  of 
a  sea-fight.  "  I  thinks,  now,  a  history  of  that  day  will 
comfort  a  flag-hofficer  as  has  been  so  badly  wounded  him 
self." 

Bluewater  offering  no  opposition,  Galleygo  proceeded 
with  his  account  of  the  evolutions  of  the  ships,  as  we  have 
already  described  them,  succeeding  surprisingly  well  in 
rendering  the  narrative  interesting,  and  making  himself 
perfectly  intelligible  and  clear,  by  his  thorough  knowledge 
and  ready  use  of  the  necessary  nautical  terms. 

When  he  came  to  the  moment,  in  which  the  English  line 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  419 

separated,  part  passing  to  windward,  and  part  to  leeward 
of  the  two  French  ships,  he  related  the  incident  in  so  clear 
and  spirited  a  manner,  that  the  Commander-in-chief  lu"m- 
self  dropped  his  pen  and  sat  listening  with  pleasure. 

"Who  could  imagine,  Dick,"  Sir  Gervaise  observed, 
"  that  those  fellows  in  the  tops  watch  us  so  closely,  and 
could  give  so  accurate  an  account  of  what  passes!" 

"  Ah  !  Gervaise,  and  what  is  the  vigilance  of  Galleygo 
to  that  of  the  All-seeing  eye  !  It  is  a  terrible  thought,  at 
an  hour  like  this,  to  remember  that  nothing  can  be  for 
gotten.  I  have  somewhere  read  that  not  an  oath  is  ut 
tered  that  does  not  continue  to  vibrate  through  all  time, 
in  the  wide-spreading  currents  of  sound — not  a  prayer 
lisped,  that  its  record  is  not  also  to  be  found  stamped  on 
the  laws  of  nature  by  the  indelible  seal  of  the  Almighty's 
will ! " 

There  was  little  in  common  between  the  religious  im 
pressions  of  the  two  friends.  They  were  both  sailors,  and 
though  the  word  does  not  necessarily  imply  that  they  were 
sinners  in  an  unusual  degree,  neither  does  it  rigidly  imply 
that  they  were  saints.  Each  had  received  the  usual  ele 
mentary  education,  and  then  each  had  been  turned  adrift,  as 
it  might  be  on  the  ocean  of  life,  to  suffer  the  seed  to  take 
root,  and  the  fruit  to  ripen  as  best  they  might.  Few  of  those 
"  who  go  down  to  the  great  deep  in  ships,"  and  who  escape 
the  more  brutalizing  effects  of  lives  so  rude,  are  altogether 
without  religious  impressions.  Living  so  mucl^  as  it  were, 
in  the  immediate  presence  of  the  power  of  Goa,  the  sailor 
is  mu:h  disposed  to  reverence  his  omnipotence,  even  while 
he  transgresses  his  laws  ;  but  in  nearly  all  those  instances 
in  which  nature  has  implanted  a  temperament  inclining  to 
deep  feeling,  as  was  the  case  with  Bluewater,  not  even  the 
harsh  examples,  nor  the  loose  or  irresponsible  lives  of 
men  thus  separated  from  the  customary  ties  of  society,  can 
wholly  extinguish  the  reverence  for  God  which  is  created 
by  constantly  dwelling  in  the  presence  of  his  earthly  mag 
nificence.  This  sentiment  in  Bluewater  had  not  been  alto 
gether  without  fruits,  for  he  both  read  and  reflected  much. 
Sometimes,  though  at  isolated  and  distant  intervals,  he 
even  prayed  ;  and  that  fervently,  and  with  a  strong  and  full 
sense  of  his  own  demerits.  As  a  consequence  of  this  gen 
eral  disposition,  and  of  the  passing  convictions,  his  mind 
was  better  attuned  for  the  crisis  before  him,  than  would 
have  been  the  case  with  most  his  brethren  in  arms,  who, 


420  THE    TU'O  ADMIRALS. 

when  overtaken  with  the  fate  so  common  to  the  profession, 
are  usually  left  to  sustain  their  last  moments  with  the  lin 
gering  enthusiasm  of  strife  and  victory. 

On  the  other  hand,  Sir  Gervaise  was  as  simple  as  a  child 
in  matters  of  this  sort.  He  had  a  reverence  for  his  Creator, 
and  such  general  notions  of  his  goodness  and  love,  as  the 
well-disposed  are  apt  to  feel ;  but  all  the  dogmas  concern 
ing  the  lost  condition  of  the  human  race,  the  mediation, 
and  the  power  of  faith,  floated  in  his  mind  as  opinions 
not  to  be  controverted,  and  yet  as  scarcely  to  be  felt.  In 
short,  the  Commander-in-chief  admitted  the  practical 
heresy,  which  overshadows  the  faith  of  millions,  while  he 
deemed  himself  to  be  a  stout  advocate  of  church  and  king. 
Still,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  on  occasions,  was  more  than 
usually  disposed  to  seriousness,  and  wras  even  inclined  to 
be  devout ;  but  it  was  without  much  regard  to  theories  or 
revelation.  At  such  moments,  while  his  opinions  would 
not  properly  admit  him  within  the  pale  of  any  Christian 
church,  in  particular,  his  feelings  might  have  identified 
him  with  all.  In  a  word,  we  apprehend  he  was  a  tolerably 
fair  example  of  W7hat  vague  generalities,  when  acting  on  a 
temperament  not  indisposed  to  moral  impressions,  render 
the  great  majority  of  men  ;  who  flit  around  the  mysteries 
of  a  future  state,  without  alighting  either  on  the  conso 
lations  of  faith,  or  discovering  any  of  those  logical  con 
clusions  which,  half  the  time  unconsciously  to  themselves, 
they  seem.to  expect.  When  Bluewater  made  his  last 
remark,  therefore,  the  Vice-admiral  looked  anxiously  at 
his  friend  ;  and  religion,  for  the  first  time  since  the  other 
received  his  hurt,  mingled  with  his  reflections.  He  had 
devoutly,  though  mentally,  returned  thanks  to  God  for 
his  victory,  but  it  had  never  occurred  to  him  that  Blue- 
water  might  need  some  preparation  for  death. 

"Would  you  like  to  see  the  Plantagenet's  chaplain 
again,  Dick  ?  "  he  said,  tenderly;  "  you  are  no  Papist  ;  of 
that  I  am  certain." 

"In  that  you  are  quite  right,  Gervaise.  I  consider  all 
churches — the  one  holy  Catholic  church,  if  you  will — as 
but  a  means  furnished  by  divine  benevolence  to  aid  weak 
men  in  their  pilgrimage  ;  but  I  also  believe  that  there  is 
even  a  shorter  way  to  his  forgiveness  than  through  these 
common  avenues.  How  far  I  am  right,"  he  added,  smiling, 
"  none  will  probably  know  better  than  myself  a  few  hours 
hence." 


7' IIP:    Tll'O   ADMIRALS.  421 

"  Friends  must  meet  again,  hereafter,  Bluewater  ;  it  is 
irrational  to  suppose  that  they  who  have  loved  each  other 
so  well  in  this  state  of  being,  are  to  be  forever  separated 
in  the  other." 

"  We  will  hope  so,  Oakes,"  taking  the  Vice-admiral's 
hand  ;  "  we  will  hope  so.  Still,  there  will  be  no  ships  for 
us — no  cruises — no  victories — no  triumphs  !  It  is  only  at 
moments  like  this,  at  which  I  have  arrived,  that  we  come 
to  view  these  things  in  their  proper  light.  Of  all  the  past, 
your  constant,  unwavering  friendship  gives  me  the  most 
pleasure  !  " 

The  Vice-admiral  could  resist  no  longer.  He  turned 
aside  and  wept.  This  tribute  to  nature,  in  one  so  manly, 
was  imposing,  even  to  the  dying  man,  and  Galleygo  re 
garded  it  with  a'we.  Familiar  as  the  latter  had  become 
with  his  master,  by  use  and  indulgence,  no  living  being, 
in  his  estimation,  was  as  authoritative  or  as  formidable  as 
the  Commander-in-chief  ;  and  the  effect  of  the  present 
spectacle  was  to  induce  him  to  hide  his  own  face  in  self- 
abasement.  Bluewater  saw  it  all,  but  he  neither  spoke  nor 
gave  any  token  of  his  observation.  He  merely  prayed, 
and  that  right  fervently,  not  only  for  his  friend,  but  for 
his  humble  and  uncouth  follower. 

A  reaction  took  place  in  the  system  of  the  wounded 
man,  about  nine  o'clock  that  night.  At  this  time  he  be 
lieved  himself  near  his  end,  and  he  sent  forWycherly  and 
his  niece,  to  take  his  leave  of  them.  Mrs.  Button  was  also 
present,  as  was  Magrath,  who  remained  on  shore,  in  atten 
dance.  Mildred  lay  for  half  an  hour,  bathing  her  uncle's 
pillow  with  her  tears,  until  she  was  removed  at  the  sur 
geon's  suggestion. 

"  Ye'll  see,  Sir  Gervaise,"  he  whispered — or  "Sir  Jairvis," 
as  he  always  pronounced  the  name — "ye'll  see,  Sir  Jairvis, 
that  it's  the  duty  of  the  faculty  to  prolong  life,  even  when 
there's  no  hope  of  saving  it;  and  if  ye'll  be  regairding  the 
judgment  of  a  professional  man,  Lady  Wychecombe  had 
better  withdraw.  It  would  really  be  a  matter  of  honest 
exultation  for  us  Plantagenets  to  get  the  Rear-admiral 
through  the  night,  seeing  that  the  surgeon  of  the  Caesar 
said  he  could  not  survive  the  setting  sun." 

At  the  moment  of  final  separation  Bluewater  had  little 
to  say  to  his  niece.  He  kissed  and  blessed  her  again  and 
again,  and  then  signed  that  she  should  be  taken  away. 
Mrs.  Dutton  also  came  in  for  a  full  share  of  his  notice,  he 


422  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

having  desired  her  to  remain  after  Wycherly  and  Mildred 
had  quitted  the  room. 

"  To  your  care  and  affection,  excellent  woman,"  he  said, 
in  a  voice  that  had  now  sunk  nearly  to  a  whisper,  "  we  owe 
it  that  Mildred  is  not  unfit  for  her  station.  Her  recovery 
would  have  been  even  more  painful  than  her  loss,  had  she 
been  restored  to  her  proper  family,  uneducated,  vulgar, 
and  coarse." 

"That  could  hardly  have  happened  to  Mildred,  sir,  in 
any  circumstance,"  answered  the  weeping  woman.  "  Na 
ture  has  done  too  much  for  the  dear  child,  to  render  her 
anything  but  delicate  and  lovely  under  any  tolerable  cir 
cumstances  of  depression." 

"  She  is  better  as  she  is,  and  God  be  thanked  that  he 
raised  up  such  a  protector  for  her  childhood.  You  have 
been  all  in  all  to  her  in  her  infancy,  and  she  will  strive  to 
repay  it  to  your  age." 

Of  this  Mrs.  Button  felt  too  confident  to  need  assurances  ; 
and  receiving  the  dying  man's  blessing,  she  knelt  at  his 
bedside,  prayed  fervently  for  a  few  minutes,  and  withdrew. 
After  this,  nothing  out  of  the  ordinary  track  occurred  un 
til  past  midnight,  and  Magrath,  more  than  once,  whispered 
his  joyful  anticipations  that  the  Rear-admiral  wquld  sur 
vive  until  morning. 

An  hour  before  day,  however,  the  wounded  man  revived, 
in  a  way  that  the  surgeon  distrusted.  He  knew  that  no 
physical  change  of  this  sort  could  well  happen  that  did  not 
arise  from  the  momentary  ascendency  of  mind  over  mat 
ter,  as  the  spirit  is  on  the  point  of  finally  abandoning  its 
earthly  tenement  ;  a  circumstance  of  no  unusual  oc 
currence  in  patients  of  strong  and  active  intellectual  prop 
erties,  whose  faculties  often  brighten  for  an  instant,  in 
their  last  moments,  as  the  lamp  flashes  and  glares  as  it  is 
about  to  become  extinct.  Going  to  the  bed,  he  examined 
his  patient  attentively,  and  was  satisfied  that  the  final  mo 
ment  was  near. 

"You're  a  man  and  a  soldier,  Sir  Jairvis,"  he  said,  in  a 
low  voice,  "and  it'll  no  be  doing  good  to  attempt  mislead 
ing  your  judgment  in  a  case  of  this  sort.  Our  respectable 
friend,  the  Rear-admiral,  is  articulo  mortis,  as  one  might  al 
most  say  ;  he  cannot  jDossibly  survive  half  an  hour." 

Sir  Gervaise  started.  He  looked  around  him  a  little 
wistfully  ;  for,  at  that  moment,  he  would  have  given  much 
to  be  alone  with  his  dying  friend.  But  he  hesitated  to 


THE    Tll'O   ADMIRALS.  423 

make  a  request,  which,  it  struck  him,  might  seem  im 
proper.  From  this  embarrassment,  however,  he  was  re 
lieved  by  Bluewater,  himself,  who  had  the  same  desire, 
without  the  same  scruples  about  confessing  it.  He  drew 
the  surgeon  to  his  side,  and  whispered  a  wish  to  be  left 
alone  with  the  Commander-in-chief. 

"Well,  there  will  be  no  trespass  on  the  rules  of  practice 
in  indulging  the  poor  man  in  his  desire,"  muttered  Mag- 
rath,  as  he  looked  about  him  to  gather  the  last  of  his  pro 
fessional  instruments,  like  the  workman  who  is  about  to 
quit  one  place  of  toil  to  repair  to  another  ;  ';and  I'll  just 
be  indulging  him." 

So  saying,  he  pushed  Galleygo  and  Geoffrey  from  the 
room,  before  him,  left  it  himself,  and  closed  the  door. 

Finding  himself  alone,  Sir  Gervaise  knelt  at  the  side  of 
the  bed  and  prayed,  holding  the  hand  of  his  friend  in  both 
of  his  own.  The  example  of  Mrs.  Button,  and  the  yearn 
ings  of  Ms  own  heart,  exacted  this  sacrifice  ;  when  it  was 
over  he  felt  a  great  relief  from  sensations  that  nearly 
choked  him. 

"  Do  you  forgive  me,  Gervaise  ? "  whispered  Bluewater. 

"  Name  it  not — name  it  not,  my  best  friend.  We  all 
have  our  moments  of  weakness,  and  our  need  of  pardon. 
May  God  forget  all  my  sins  as  freely  as  I  forget  your 
errors  !  " 

"  God  bless  you,  Oakes,  and  keep  you  the  same  simple- 
minded,  true-hearted  man  you  have  ever  been." 

Sir  Gervaise  buried  his  face  in  the  bed-clothes,  and 
groaned. 

"Kiss  me,  Oakes,"  murmured  the  Rear-admiral. 

In  order  to  do  this,  the  Commander-in-chief  rose  from 
his  knees  and  bent  over  the  body  of  his  friend.  As  he 
raised  himself  from  the  cheek  he  had  saluted,  a  benignant 
smile  gleamed  on  the  face  of  the  dying  man,  and  he  ceased 
to  breathe.  Near  half  a  minute  followed,  however,  before 
the  last  and  most  significant  breath  that  is  ever  drawn  from 
man,  was  given.  The  remainder  of  that  night  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes  passed  in  the  chamber  alone,  pacing  the  floor,  re 
calling  the  many  scenes  of  pleasure,  danger,  pain,  and  tri 
umph,  through  which  he  and  the  dead  had  passed  in  com 
pany.  With  the  return  of  light,  he  summoned  the  attend 
ants,  and  retired  to  his  tent. 


424  THE    TWO   ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

And  they  came  for  the  buried  king  that  lay 

At  rest  in  that  ancient  fane  ; 
For  he  must  be  armed  on  the  battle  day, 

With  them  to  deliver  Spain  ! — 
Then  the  march  went  sounding  on, 
And  the  Moors  by  noontide  sun, 

Were  dust  on  Tolosa's  plains. — MRS.  HEMANS. 

IT  remains  only  to  give  a  rapid  sketch  of  the  fortunes  of 
our  principal  characters,  and  of  the  few  incidents,  that  are 
more  immediately  connected  with  what  has  gone  before. 
The  death  of  Bluewater  was  announced  to  the  fleet,  at  sun 
rise,  by  hauling  down  his  flag  from  the  mizzen  of  the 
Caesar.  The  Vice-admiral's  flag  came  down  with  it,  and 
re-appeared  at  the  next  minute  at  the  fore  of  the  Planta- 
genet.  But  the  little  white  emblem  of  rank  never  went 
aloft  again  in  honor  of  the  deceased.  At  noon,  it  was 
spread  over  his  coffin,  on  the  main  deck  of  the  ship,  agree 
ably  to  his  own  request  ;  and  more  than  once  that  day 
did  some  rough  old  tar  use  it,  to  wipe  the  tear  from  his 
eyes. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  day  after  the  death  of  one  of 
our  heroes,  the  wind  came  round  to  the  westward,  and  all 
the  vessels  lifted  their  anchors  and  proceeded  to  Plymouth. 
The  crippled  ships,  by  this  time,  were  in  a  state  to  carry 
more  or  less  sail,  and  a  stranger  who  had  seen  the  melan 
choly-looking  line,  as  it  rounded  the  Start,  would  have  fan 
cied  it  a  beaten  fleet  on  its  return  to  port.  The  only  sign 
of  exultation  that  appeared  were  the  jacks  that  were  flying 
over  the  white  flags  of  the  prizes;  and  even  when  all  had 
anchored,  the  same  air  of  sadness  reigned  among  these 
victorious  mariners.  The  body  was  landed.with  the  usual 
forms  ;  but  the  procession  of  warriors  of  the  deep  that  fol 
lowed  it,  was  distinguished  by  the  gravity  that  exceeded 
the  ordinary  aspects  of  mere  form.  Many  of  the  captains, 
and  Greenly  in  particular,  had  viewed  the  manoeuvring 
of  Hluewater  with  surprise,  apd  the  latter  not  altogether 
without  displeasure  ;  but  his  subsequent  conduct  com 
pletely  erased  these  impressions,  leaving  no  other  recol 
lection  connected  with  his  conduct  that  morning  than  the 
brilliant  courage  and  admirable  handling  of  his  vessels,  by 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  425 

which  the  fortunes  of  a  nearly  desperate  day  were  retrieved. 
Those  who  did  reflect  any  longer  on  the  subject,  attrib 
uted  the  singularity  of  the  course  pursued  by  the  Rear- 
admiral  to  some  private  orders  communicated  in  the  tele 
graphic  signal,  as  already  mentioned. 

It  is  unnecessary  for  us  to  dwell  on  the  particular  move 
ments  of  the  licet  after  it  reached  Plymouth.  The  ships 
were  repaired,  the  prizes  received  into  the  service,  and,  in 
due  time,  all  took  the  sea  again,  ready  and  anxious  to  en 
counter  their  country's  enemies.  They  ran  the  careers 
usual  to  English  heavy  cruisers  in  that  age  ;  and,  as  ships 
form  character  in  this  work,  perhaps  it  may  not  be  amiss 
to  take  a  general  glance  at  their  several  fortunes,  together 
with  those  of  their  respective  commanders.  Sir  Gervaise 
fairly  wore  out  the  Plantagenet,  which  vessel  was  broken 
up  three  years  later,  though  not  until  she  had  carried  a 
blue  flag  at  her  main,  more  than  two  years.  Greenly  lived 
to  be  a  Rear-admiral  of  the  red,  and  died  of  yellow  fever  in 
the  island  of  B.'vrbadoes.  The  Caesar,  with  Stowel  still  in 
command  of  her,  foundered  at  sea  in  a  winter's  cruise  in 
the  Baltic,  every  soul  perishing.  This  calamity  occurred 
the  winter  succeeding  the  summer  of  our  legend,  and  the 
only  relieving  circumstances  connected  with  the  disaster, 
was  the  fact  that  her  commander  got  rid  of  Mrs.  Stowel 
altogether  from  that  day  forward.  The  Thunderer  had 
her  share  in  many  a  subsequent  battle,  and  Foley,  her 
Captain,  died  Rear-admiral  of  England,  and  Vice-admiral 
of  the  red,  thirty  years  later.  The  Carnatic  was  com 
manded  by  Parker,  until  the  latter  got  a  right  to  hoist  a 
blue  flag  at  the  rnizzen  ;  which  was  done  for  just  one  day 
to  comply  with  form,  when  both  ship  and  admiral  were 
laid  aside  as  too  old  for  further  use.  It  should  be  added, 
however,  that  Parker  was  knighted  by  the  king  on  board 
his  own  ship  ;  a  circumstance  that  cast  a  halo  of  sunshine 
over  the  close  of  the  life  of  one,  who  had  commenced  his 
career  so  humbly  as  to  render  this  happy  close  more  than 
equal  to  his  expectations. 

In  direct  opposition  to  this,  it  may  be  said  here,  that  Sir 
Gervaise  refused,  for  the  third  time,  to  be  made  Viscount 
Bowldero,  with  a  feeling  just  the  reverse  of  Parker's  ;  for, 
secure  of  his  social  position,  and  careless  of  politics,  he 
viewed  the  elevation  with  an  indifference  that  was  a  natural 
consequence  enough  of  his  own  birth,  fortune,  and  high 
character.  On  this  occasion — it  was  after  another  victory 


426  ...  %7*fIE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

— George  II.  personally  alluded  to  the  subject,  remarking 
that  the  success  we  have  recorded  had  never  met  with  its 
reward  ;  when  the  old  seaman  let  out  the  true  secret  of  his 
pertinaciously  declining  an  honor,  about  which  he  might 
otherwise  have  been  supposed  to  be  as  indifferent  to  the 
acceptance,  as  to  the  refusal.  "  Sire,"  he  answered  to  the 
remark  of  the  king,  "I  am  duly  sensible  of  your  Majesty's 
favor  ;  but,  I  can  never  consent  to  receive  a  patent  of 
nobility  that,  in  my  eyes,  will  always  seem  to  be  sealed 
with  the  blood  of  my  closest  and  best  friend."  This  reply 
was  remembered,  and  the  subject  was  never  adverted  to 
again. 

The  fate  of  the  Blenheim  was  one  of  those  impressive 
blanks  that  dot  the  pages  of  nautical  history.  She  sailed 
for  the  Mediterranean  alone,  and  after  she  had  discharged 
her  pilot,  was  never  heard  of  again.  This  did  not  occur, 
however,  until  Captain  Sterling  had  been  killed  on  her 
decks,  in  one  of  Sir  Gervaise's  subsequent  actions.  The 
Achilles  was  suffered  to  drift  in  too  near  to  some  heavy 
French  batteries,  before  the  treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle  was 
signed  ;  and  after  every  stick  had  b<jen  again  cut  out  of 
her,  she  was  compelled  to  lower  her  flag.  His  earldom 
and  his  courage  saved  Lord  Morganic  from  censure ; 
but,  being  permitted  to  go  up  to  Paris,  previously  to  his 
exchange,  he  contracted  a  matrimonial  engagement  with 
a  celebrated  danseusey  a  craft  that  gave  him  so  much 
future  employment,  that  he  virtually  abandoned  his  profes 
sion.  Nevertheless,  his  name  was  on  the  list  of  vice- 
admirals  of  the  blue,  when  he  departed  this  life.  The 
Warspite  and  Captain  Goodfellow  both  died  natural 
deaths  ;  one  as  a  receiving-ship,  and  the  other  as  a  Rear- 
admiral  of  the  white.  The  Dover,  Captain  Drinkwater, 
was  lost  in  attempting  to  weather  Sicily  in  a  gale,  when 
her  commander,  and  quite  half  of  her  crew,  were  drowned. 
The  York  did  many  a  hard  day's  duty  before  her  time 
arrived  ;  but,  in  the  end,  she  was  so  much  injured  in  a 
general  action  as  to  be  abandoned  and  set  fire  to,  at  sea. 
Her  commander  was  lost  overboard,  in  the  very  first  cruise 
she  took,  after  that  related  in  this  work.  The  Elizabeth 
rotted  as  a  guard-ship,  in  the  Medway  ;  and  Captain 
Blakely  retired  from  the  service  with  one  arm,  a  yellow- 
admiral.  The  Dublin  laid  her  bones  in  the  cove  of  Cork, 
having  been  condemned  after  a  severe  winter  on  the  north 
coast.  Captain  O'Neil  was  killed  in  a  duel  with  a  French 


THE   TWO  ADMIR^mg^  427 

\s> 

officer,  after  the  peace  ;  the  latter  having^gW£d  that  his  ship 
had  run  away  from  two  frigates  commanobd  by  the  Cheva 
lier.  The  Chloe  was  taken  by  an  enemy's  fleet,  in  the  next 
ivar  ;  but  Captain  Denham  worked  his  way  up  to  a  white 
flag  at  the  main,  and  a  peerage.  The  Druid  was  wrecked 
that  very  summer,  chasing  inshore,  near  Bordeaux  ;  and 
Blewet,  in  a  professional  point  of  view,  never  regained  the 
ground  he  lost,  on  this  occasion.  As  for  the  sloops  and 
cutters,  they  went  the  way  of  all  small  cruisers,  while  their 
nameless  commanders  shared  the  usual  fate  of  mariners. 

Wycherly  remained  at  Wychecombe  until  the  interment 
of  his  uncle  took  place  ;  at  which,  aided  by  Sir  Reginald's 
influence  and  knowledge,  and,  in  spite  of  Tom's  intrigues, 
he  appeared  as  chief  mourner.  The  affair  of  the  succes 
sion  was  also  so  managed  as  to  give  him  very  little  trouble. 
Tom,  discovering  that  his  own  illegitimacy  was  known,  and 
seeing  the  hopelessness  of  the  contest  against  such  an  an 
tagonist  as  Sir  Reginald,  who  knew  quite  as  much  of  the 
facts  as  he  did  of  the  law  of  the  case,  was  fain  to  retire 
from  the  field.  From  that  moment,  no  one  heard  any 
thing  more  of  the  legacies.  In  the  end  he  received  the 
^£20,000  in  five  per  cents,  and  the  fewr  chattels  Sir  Wych- 
erley  had  a  right  to  give  away ;  but  his  enjoyment  of  them 
was  short,  as  he  contracted  a  severe  cold  that  very  autumn, 
and  died  of  a  malignant  fever,  in  a  fewr  weeks. 

Leaving  no  will,  his  property  escheated  ;  but  it  wras  all 
restored  to  his  two  uterine  brothers  by  the  liberality  of  the 
ministry,  and  out  of  respect  to  the  long  services  of  the 
baron,  which  two  brothers,  it  will  be  remembered,  alone 
had  any  of  the  blood  of  Wychecombe  in  their  veins  to 
boast  of.  This  was  disposing  of  the  savings  of  both  the 
Baronet  and  the  judge,  with  a  very  suitable  regard  to 
moral  justice. 

Wycherly  also  appeared,  though  it  was  in  company  with 
Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  as  one  of  the  prinipal  mourners  at.  the 
funeral  obsequies  of  Admiral  Bluewater.  These  were  of 
a  public  character,  and  took  place  in  Westminster  Abbey. 
The  carriages  of  that  portion  of  the  royal  personages  who 
were  not  restrained  by  the  laws  of  court  etiquette,  appeared 
in  the  procession  ;  and  several  members  of  that  very  family 
that  the  deceased  regarded  as  intruders,  were  present  incog, 
at  his  last  rites.  This,  however,  was  but  one  of  the  many 
illusions  that  the  great  masquerade  of  life  is  constantly 
offering  to  the  public  gaze. 


428  77//i    TWO   ADMIRALS. 

There  was  little  difficulty  in  establishing  the  claims  of 
Mildred,  to  be  considered  the  daughter  of  Colonel  Blue- 
water  and  Agnes  Hedvvorth.  Lord  Bluewater  was  soon 
satisfied  ;  and,  as  he  was  quite  indifferent  to  the  possession 
of  his  kinsman's  money,  an  acquisition  he  neither  wished 
nor  expected,  the  most  perfect  good-will  existed  between 
the  parties.  There  was  more  difficulty  with  the  Duchess  of 
Glamorgan,  who  had  acquired  too  many  of  the  notions  of 
very  high  rank,  to  look  with  complacency  on  a  niece  that 
had  been  educated  as  the  daughter  of  a  sailing-master  in 
the  navy.  She  raised  many  objections,  while  she  admitted 
that  she  had  been  the  confidant  of  her  sister's  attachment 
to  John  Bluewater.  Her  second  son,  Geoffrey,  did  more 
to  remove  her  scruples  than  all  the  rest  united  ;  and  when 
Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  in  person  condescended  to  make  a 
journey  to  the  Park,  to  persuade  her  to  examine  the  proofs, 
she  could  not  well  decline.  As  soon  as  one  of  her  really 
candid  mind  entered  into  the  inquiry,  the  evidence  was 
found  to  be  irresistible,  and  she  at  once  yielded  to  the  feel 
ings  of  nature.  Wycherly  had  been  indefatigable  in  es 
tablishing  this  wife's  claims — more  so,  indeed,  than  in 
establishing  his  own  ;  and,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  Vice- 
admiral — or  admiral  of  the  white,  as  he  had  become  by  a 
recent  general  promotion — he  consented  to  accompany  the 
latter  in  this  visit,  waiting  at  the  nearest  town,  however, 
for  a  summons  to  the  Park,  as  soon  as  it  could  be  ascer 
tained  that  his  presence  would  be  agreeable  to  its  mist 
ress. 

"  If  my  niece  proves  but  half  as  acceptable  in  appear 
ance  as  my  nephew,  Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  the  Duchess, 
when  the  young  Virginian  was  introduced  to  her,  and  lay 
ing  stress  on  the  word  we  have  italicized,  "nothing  can  be 
wanting  to  the  agreeables  of  this  new  connection.  I  am 
impatient,  now,  to  see  my  niece  ;  Sir  Wycherly  Wyche- 
combe  has  prepared  me  to  expect  a  young  woman  of  more 
than  common  merit." 

"My  life  on  it,  Duchess,  he  has  not  raised  your  expec 
tations  too  high.  The  poor  girl  is  still  dwelling  in  her 
cottage,  the  companion  of  her  reputed  mother  ;  but  it  is 
time,  Wychecombe,  that  you  had  claimed  your  bride." 

"I  expect  to  find  her  and  Mrs.  Dutton  at  the  Hall,  on 
my  return  Sir  Gervaise  ;  it  having  been  thus  arranged  be 
tween  us.  The  sad  ceremonies  through  which  we  have 
lately  been,  were  unsuited  to  the  introduction  of  the  new 


THE    Tiro   ADMIRALS.  429 

mistress  to  her  abode,  and  the  last  had  been  deferred  to  a 
more  fitting  occasion." 

"Let  the  first  visit  that  Lady  Wychecombe  pays,  be  to 
this  place,"  said  the  Duchess.  "  I  do  not  command  it,  Sir 
Wycherly,  as  one  who  has  some  slight  claims  to  her  duty  ; 
but  I  solicit  it,  as  one  who  wishes  to  possess  every  hold 
upon  her  love.  Her  mother  was  an  only  sister  ;  and  an 
only  sister's  child  must  be  very  dear  to  one." 

It  would  have  been  impossible  for  the  Duchess  of 
Glamorgan  to  have  said  as  much  as  this  before  she  saw 
the  young  Virginian  ;  but,  now  he  had  turned  out  a  per 
son  so  very  different  from  what  she  expected,  she  had  lively 
hopes  in  behalf  of  her  niece. 

Wycherly  returned  to  Wychecombe,  after  this  short  visit 
to  Mildred's  aunt,  and  found  his  lovely  bride  in  quiet  pos 
session,  accompanied  by  her  mother.  Dutton  still  remained 
at  the  station,  for  he  had  the  sagacity  to  see  that  he  might 
not  be  welcome,  and  modesty  enough  to  act  with  a  cau 
tious  reserve. 

But  Wycherly  respected  his  excellent  wife  too  profound 
ly  not  to  have  a  due  regard  to  her  feelings,  in  all  things  ; 
and  the  master  was  invited  to  join  the  party.  Brutality 
and  meanness  united,  like  those  which  belonged  to  the 
character  of  Dutton,  are  not  easily  abashed,  and  he  ac 
cepted  the  invitation,  in  the  hope,  that,  after  all,  he  was  to 
reap  as  many  advantages  by  the  marriage  of  Mildred  with 
the  affluent  Baronet,  as  if  she  had  actually  been  his 
daughter. 

After  passing  a  few  weeks  in  sober  happiness  at  home, 
Wycherly  felt  it  due  to  all  parties  to  carry  his  wife  to  the 
Park,  in  order  that  she  might  make  the  acquaintance  of 
the  near  relatives  who  dwelt  there.  Mrs.  Dutton,  by  invita 
tion,  was  one  of  the  party  ;  but  Dutton  was  left  behind, 
having  no  necessary  connection  with  the  scenes  and  feel 
ings  that  were  likely  to  occur.  It  would  be  painting  the 
Duchess  too  much  en  beau,  wTere  we  to  say  that  she  met 
Mildred  without  certain  misgivings  and  fears.  But  the 
first  glimpse  of  her  lovely  niece  completely  put  natural 
feelings  in  the  ascendency.  The  resemblance  to  her  sister 
was  so  strong  as  to  cause  a  piercing  cry  to  escape  her,  and, 
bursting  into  tears,  she  folded  the  trembling  young  woman 
to  her  heart,  with  a  fervor  and  sincerity  that  set  at  naught 
all  conventional  manners.  This  was  the  commencement 


430  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

of  a  close  intimacy ;  which  lasted  but  a  short  time,  how 
ever,  the  Duchess  dying  two  years  later. 

Wycherly  continued  in  the  service  until  the  peace  of 
Aix-la-Chapelle,  when  he  finally  quitted  the  sea.  His 
strong  native  attachments  led  him  back  to  Virginia,  where 
all  his  own  nearest  relatives  belonged,  and  where  his 
whole  heart  might  be  said  to  be  when  he  saw  Mildred  and 
his  children  at  his  side.  With  him,  early  associations  and 
habits  had  more  strength  than  traditions  and  memorials 
of  the  past.  He  erected  a  spacious  dwelling  on  the  estate 
inherited  from  his  father,  where  he  passed  most  of  his 
time  ;  consigning  Wychecombe  to  the  care  of  a  careful 
steward.  With  the  additions  and  improvements  that  he 
was  now  enabled  to  make,  his  Virginian  estate  produced 
even  a  larger  income  than  the  English,  and  his  interests 
really  pointed  to  the  choice  he  had  made.  But  no  pecu 
niary  considerations  lay  at  the  bottom  of  his  selection. 
He  really  preferred  the  graceful  and  courteous  ease  of  the 
intercourse  which  characterized  the  manners  of  the  James 
River.  In  that  age,  they  were  equally  removed  from  the 
coarse  and  boisterous  jollity  of  the  English  country-squire, 
and  the  heartless  conventionalities  of  high  life.  In  addi 
tion  to  this,  his  sensitive  feelings  rightly  enough  detected 
that  he  was  regarded  in  the  mother-country  as  a  sort  of 
intruder.  He  was  spoken  of,  alluded  to  in  the  journals, 
and  viewed  even  by  his  tenants  as  the  American  landlord  : 
and  he  never  felt  truly  at  home  in  the  country  for  which 
he  had  fought  and  bled.  In  England  his  rank  as  a  Baro 
net  was  not  sufficient  to  look  down  these  little  peculiari 
ties  ;  whereas,  in  Virginia,  it  gave  him  a  certain  eclat,  that 
was  grateful  to  one  of  the  main  weaknesses  of  human 
nature.  "  At  home,"  as  the  mother-country  was  then  af 
fectionately  termed,  he  had  no  hope  of  becoming  a  privy 
councillor  ;  while,  in  his  native  colony,  his  rank  and  for 
tune,  almost  as  a  matter  of  course,  placed  him  in  the  coun 
cil  of  the  Governor.  In  a  word,  while  Wycherly  found 
most  of  those  worldly  considerations  which  influence  men 
in  the  choice  of  their  place  of  residence  in  favor  of  the 
region  in  which  he  happened  to  be  born,  his  election  was 
made  more  from  feeling  and  taste  than  from  anything 
else.  His  mind  had  taken  an  early  bias  in  favor  of  the 
usages  and  opinions  of  the  people  among  whom  he  had 
received  his  first  impressions,  and  this  bias  he  retained  to 
the  hour  of  his  death. 


THE  TIVO  ADMIRALS.  431 

Like  a  true  woman,  Mildred  found  her  happiness  with 
her  husband  and  children.  Of  the  latter  she  had  but  phree  ; 
a  boy  and  two  girls.  The  care  of  the  last  was  early  com 
mitted  to  Mrs.  Button.  This  excellent  woman  had  re 
mained  at  Wychecombe  with  her  husband,  until  death  put 
an  end  to  his  vices,  though  the  close  of  his  career  was  ex 
empt  from  those  scenes  of  brutal  dictation  and  interference 
that  had  rendered  the  earlier  part  of  her  life  so  miserable. 
Apprehension  of  what  might  be  the  consequences  to  him 
self,  acted  as  a  check,  and  he  had  sagacity  enough  to  see 
that  the  physical  comforts  he  now  possessed  were  all  owing 
to  the  influence  of  his  wife.  He  lived  but  four  years,  how 
ever.  On  his  death,  his  widow  immediately  took  her 
departure  for  America. 

It  would  be  substituting  pure  images  of  the  fancy  for  a 
picture  of  sober  realities,  were  we  to  say  that  Lady  Wyche 
combe  and  her  adopted  mother  never  regretted  the  land  of 
their  birth.  This  negation  of  feeling,  habits,  and  prejudices 
is  not  to  be  expected  even  in  an  Esquimaux.  They  both 
had  occasional  strictures  to  make  on  the  climate  (and  this 
to  Wycherly's  great  surprise,  for  he  conscientiously  believed 
that  of  England  to  be  just  the  worst  in  the  world),  on  the 
fruits,  the  servants,  the  roads,  and  the  difficulty  of  procur 
ing  various  little  comforts.  But,  as  this  was  said  good- 
naturedly  and  in  pleasantry,  rather  than  in  the  way  of  com 
plaint,  it  led  to  no  unpleasant  scenes  or  feelings.  As  all 
three  made  occasional  voyages  to  England,  where  his  estates 
and  more  particularly  settlements  with  his  factor,  com 
pelled  the  Baronet  to  go  once  in  about  a  lustrum,  the  fruits 
and  the  climate  were  finally  given  up  by  the  ladies.  After 
many  years,  even  the  slip-shod,  careless,  but  hearty  attend 
ance  of  the  negroes  came  to  be  preferred  to  the  dogged 
mannerism  of  the  English  domestics,  perfect  as  were  the 
latter  in  their  parts  ;  and  the  whole  subject  got  to  be  one 
of  amusement  instead  of  one  of  complaint.  There  is  no 
greater  mistake  than  to  suppose  that  the  traveller  who  passes 
once  through  a  country,  with  his  home-bred,  and  quite 
likely  provincial  notions  thick  upon  him,  is  competent  to 
describe,  with  due  discrimination,  even  the  usages  of  which 
he  is  actually  a  witness.  This  truth  all  the  family  came  in  time 
to  discover  ;  and  while  it  rendered  them  more  strictly  criti 
cal  in  their  remarks,  it  also  rendered  them  more  tolerant. 
As  it  was,  few  happier  families  were  to  be  found  in  the 
British  empire  than  that  of  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe  ; 


432  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

its  head  retaining  his  manly  and  protecting  affection  for 
all  dependent  on  him,  while  his  wife,  beautiful  as  a  matron, 
as  she  had  been  lovely  as  a  girl,  clung  to  him  with  the 
tenacity  of  the  vine  to  its  own  oak. 

Of  the  result  of  the  rising  in  the  North  it  is  unnecessary 
to  say  much.  The  history  of  the  Chevalier's  successes  in 
the  first  year,  and  of  his  final  overthrow  at  Culloden,  is 
well  known.  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,  like  hundreds  of 
others,  played  his  cards  so  skilfully  that  he  avoided  com 
mitting  himself;  and,  although  he  lived  and  eventually 
died  a  suspected  man,  he  escaped  forfeitures  and  attainder. 
With  Sir  Wycherly,  as  the  head  of  his  house,  he  maintained 
a  friendly  correspondence  to  the  last,  even  taking  charge 
of  the  paternal  estate  in  its  owner's  absence  ;  manifesting 
to  the  hour  of  his  death,  a  scrupulous  probity  in  matters 
of  money,  mingled  with  an  inherent  love  of  management 
and  intrigue,  in  things  that  related  to  politics  and  the  suc 
cession.  Sir  Reginald  lived  long  enough  to  see  the 'hopes 
of  the  Jacobites  completely  extinguished,  and  the  throne 
filled  by  a  native  Englishman. 

Many  long  years  after  the  events  which  rendered  the 
week  of  its  opening  incidents  so  memorable  among  its 
actors,  must  now  be  imagined.  Time  had  advanced  with 
its  usual  unfaltering  tread,  and  the  greater  part  of  a  gen 
eration  had  been  gathered  to  their  fathers.  George  III. 
had  been  on  the  throne  not  less  than  three  lustrums,  and 
most  of  the  important  actors  of  the  period  of  '45,  were 
dead — many  of  them,  in  a  degree,  forgotten.  But  each 
age  has  its  own  events  and  its  own  changes.  Those  col 
onies,  which  in  1745  were  so  loyal,  so  devoted  to  the  house 
of  Hanover,  in  the  belief  that  political  and  religious  lib 
erty  depended  on  the  issue,  had  revolted  against  the  su 
premacy  of  the  Parliament  of  the  empire.  America  was 
already  in  arms  against  the  mother  country,  and  the  very 
day  before  the  occurrence  of  the  little  scene  we  are  about 
to  relate,  the  intelligence  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  had 
reached  London.  Although  the  gazette  and  national  pride 
had,  in  a  degree,  lessened  the  characteristics  of  this  most 
remarkable  of  all  similar  combats,  by  exaggerating  the  num 
bers  of  the  colonists  engaged,  and  lessening  the  loss  of  the 
royal  troops,  the  impression  produced  by  the  news  is  said 
to  have  been  greater  than  any  known  to  that  age.  It  had 
been  the  prevalent  opinion  of  England — an  opinion  that 
was  then  general  in  Europe,  and  which  descended  even  to 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS.  433 

our  own  times — that  the  animals  of  the  new  continent, 
man  included,  had  less  courage  and  physical  force  than 
those  of  the  old ;  and  astonishment  mingled  with  the  fore 
bodings  of  the  intelligent,  when  it  was  found  that  a  body 
of  ill-armed  countrymen  had  dared  to  meet,  in  a  singularly 
bloody  combat,  twice  their  number  of  regular  troops,  and 
that,  too,  under  the  guns  of  the  king's  shipping  and  bat 
teries.  Rumors,  for  the  moment,  were  rife  in  London,  and 
the  political  world  was  filled  with  gloomy  anticipations 
of  the  future. 

In  the  morning  of  the  day  alluded  to,  Westminster  Ab 
bey,  as  usual,  was  open  to  the  inspection  of  the  curious 
and  interested.  Several  parties  were  scattered  among  its 
aisles  and  chapels,  some  reading  the  inscriptions  on  the 
simple  tablets  of  the  dead  which  illustrate  a  nation  in 
illustrating  themselves  ;  others  listening  to  the  names  of 
princes  who  derived  their  consequence  from  their  thrones 
and  alliances  ;  and  still  other  sets,  who  were  wandering 
among  the  more  elaborate  memorials  that  have  been  raised 
equally  to  illustrate  insignificance,  and  to  mark  the  final 
resting  places  of  more  modern  heroes  and  statesmen.  The 
beauty  of  the  weather  had  brought  out  more  visitors  than 
common,  and  not  less  than  half  a  dozen  equipages  were  in 
waiting,  in  and  about  Palace  Yard.  Among  others,  one 
had  a  ducal  coronet.  This  carriage  did  not  fail  to  attract 
the  attention  that  is  more  than  usually  bestowed  on  rank, 
in  England.  All  were  empty,  however,  and  more  than  one 
party  of  pedestrians  entered  the  venerable  edifice,  rejoic 
ing  that  the  view  of  a  duke  or  a  duchess  was  to  be  thrown 
in,  among  the  other  sights,  gratuitously.  All  who  passed 
on  foot,  however,  were  not  influenced  by  this  vulgar  feel 
ing  ;  for  one  group  went  by,  that  did  not  even  cast  a  glance 
at  the  collection  of  carriages ;  the  seniors  of  the  party  be 
ing  too  much  accustomed  to  such  things  to  lend  them  a 
thought,  and  the  juniors  too  full  of  anticipations  of  what 
they  were  about  to  see,  to  think  of  other  matters.  This 
party  consisted  of  a  handsome  man  of  fifty-odd,  and  a  lady 
some  three  or  four  years  his  junior,  well  preserved  and  still 
exceedingly  attractive  ;  a  young  man  of  twenty-six,  and 
two  lovely  girls,  that  looked  like  twins,  though  one  was 
really  twenty-one,  and  the  other  but  nineteen.  These  were 
Sir  Wycherly  and  Lady  Wychecombe,  Wycherly,  their  only 
son,  then  just  returned  from  a  five  years'  peregrination  on 
the  continent  of  Europe,  and  Mildred  and  Agnes,  thei* 

23 


434  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

daughters.  The  rest  of  the  family  had  arrived  in  England 
about  a  fortnight  before,  to  greet  their  heir  on  his  return 
from  the  grand  tour,  as  it  was  then  termed.  The  meeting  had 
been  one  of  love,  though  Lady  Wychecombe  had  to  reprove 
a  few  innocent  foreign  affectations,  as  she  fancied  them  to 
be,  in  her  son  ;  and  the  Baronet,  himself,  laughed  at  the 
scraps  of  French,  Italian,  and  German,  that  quite  naturally 
mingled  in  the  young  man's  discourse.  All  this,  however, 
cast  no  cloud  over  the  party,  for  it  had  ever  been  a  family 
of  entire  confidence  and  unbroken  love. 

"  This  is  a  most  solemn  place  to  me,"  observed  Sir 
Wycherly,  as  they  entered  the  Poets'  Corner,  "and  one 
in  which  a  common  man  unavoidably  feels  his  own  insig 
nificance.  But  we  will  first  make  our  pilgrimage,  and  look 
at  these  remarkable  inscriptions  as  we  come  out.  The 
tomb  we  seek  is  in  a  chapel  on  the  other  side  of  the  church, 
near  to  the  great  doors.  When  I  last  saw  it,  it  was  quite 
alone." 

•  On  hearing  this,  the  whole  party  moved  on ;  though  the 
two  lovely  young  Virginians  cast  wistful  and  curious  eyes 
behind  them,  at  the  wonders  by  which  they  were  sur 
rounded. 

"  Is  not  this  an  extraordinary  edifice,  Wycherly?"  half 
whispered  Agnes,  the  youngest  of  the  sisters,  as  she  clung 
to  one  arm  of  her  brother,  Mildred  occupying  the  other. 
"  Can  the  whole  world  furnish  such  another  ?" 

"  So  much  for  hominy  and  James  River?"  answered  the 
young  man,  laughing  ;  "  now  could  you  but  see  the  pile 
at  Rouen,  or  that  at  Rheims,  or  that  at  Antwerp,  or  even 
that  at  York,  in  this  good  kingdom,  old  Westminster  would 
have  to  fall  back  upon  its  little  tablets  and  big  names.  But 
Sir  Wycherly  stops  ;  he  must  see  what  he  calls  his  land 
fall." 

Sir  Wycherly  had  indeed  stopped.  It  was  in  conse 
quence  of  having  reached  the  head  of  the  chceur,  whence 
he  could  see  the  interior  of  the  recess,  or  chapel,  toward 
which  he  had  been  moving.  It  still  contained  but  a  single 
monument,  and  that  was  adorned  with  an  anchor  and 
other  nautical  emblems. 

Even  at  that  distance,  the  words,  "  RICHARD  BLUEWATER, 
REAR-ADMIRAL  OF  THE  WHITE,"  might  be  read.  But  the 
Baronet  had  come  to  a  sudden  halt,  in  consequence  of 
seeing  a  party  of  three  enter  the  chapel,  in  which  he  wished 
to  be  alone  with  his  own  family.  The  party  consisted  of 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  435 

an  old  man,  who  walked  with  tottering  steps,  and  this  so 
much  the  more  from  the  circumstance  that  he  leaned  on  a 
domestic  nearly  as  old  as  himself,  though  of  a  somewhat 
sturdier  frame,  and  of  a  tall  imposing-looking  person  of 
middle  age,  who  followed  the  two  with  patient  steps. 
Several  attendants  of  the  cathedral  watched  this  party  from 
a  distance  with  an  air  of  curiosity  and  respect ;  but  they 
had  been  requested  not  to  accompany  it  to  the  chapel. 

"  They  must  be  some  old  brother  officers  of  my  poor 
uncle,  visiting  his  tomb  !  "  whispered  Lady  Wychecombe. 
"  The  very  venerable  gentleman  has  naval  emblems  about 
his  attire." 

"  Do  you — can  you  forget  him,  love  ?  'Tis  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes,  the  pride  of  England  !  yet  howr  changed !  It  is 
now  five-and-twenty  years  since  we  last  met  ;  still  I  knew 
him  at  a  glance.  The  servant  is  old  Galleygo,  his  steward  ; 
but  the  gentleman  with  him  is  a  stranger.  Let  us  ad 
vance  ;  we  cannot  be  intruders  in  such  a  place." 

Sir  Gervaise  paid  no  attention  to  the  entrance  of  the 
Wychecombes.  If  was  evident  by  the  vacant  look  of  his 
countenance,  that  time  and  hard  service  had  impaired  his 
faculties,  though  his  body  remained  entire  ;  an  unusual 
thing  for  one  who  had  been  so  often  engaged.  Still  there 
were,  glimmerings  of  lively  recollections,  and  even  of 
strong  sensibilities  about  his  eyes,  as  sudden  fancies  crossed 
his  mind.  Once  a  year,  the  anniversary  of  his  friend's 
interment,  he  visited  that  chapel  ;  and  he  had  now  been 
brought  here  as  much  from  habit,  as  by  his  own  desire.  A 
chair  was  provided  for  him,  and  he  sat  facing  the  tomb, 
with  the  large  letters  before  his  eyes.  He  regarded  neither, 
though  he  bowed  courteously  to  the  salute  of  the  strangers. 
His  companion  at  first  seemed  a  little  surprised,  if  not 
offended  at  the  intrusion  ;  but  when  Wycherly  mentioned 
that  they  were  relatives  of  the  deceased,  he  also  bowed 
complacently,  and  made  way  for  the  ladies. 

"This  it  is  as  what  you  wants  to  see,  Sir  Jarvey,"  ob 
served  Galleygo,  jogging  his  master's  shoulder  by  way  of 
jogging  his  memory.  "  Them  'ere  cables  and  hanchors, 
and  that  'ere  mizzen-mast,  with  a  Rear-admiral's  flag  a- 
flying,  is  rigged  in  this  old  church,  in  honor  of  our  friend 
Admiral  Blue,  as  was  ;  but  as  is  now  dead  and  gone  this 
many  a  long  year." 

'•'Admiral  of  the  blue!"  repeated  Sir  Gervaise  coldly. 
"  You're  mistaken,  Galleygo  ;  I'm  an  Admiral  of  the  white, 


436  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

and  Admiral  of  the  fleet  in  the  bargain.  I  know  my  own 
rank,  sir." 

~"  I  know  that  as  well  as  you  does  yourself,  Sir  Jarvey," 
answered  Galleygo,  whose  grammar  had  rather  become 
confirmed  than  improved,  by  time,  "  or  as  well  as  the  First 
Lord  himself.  But  Admiral  Blue  was  once  your  best 
friend,  and  I  doesn't  at  all  admire  at  your  forgetting  him— 
one  of  these  long  nights  you'll  be  forgetting  me." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Galleygo  ;  I  rather  think  not.  I  re 
member  jy<?#  when  a  very  young  man." 

"  Well,  and  so  you  mought  remember  Admiral  Blue,  if 
you'd  just  try.  I  knowed  ye  both  when  young  luffs,  my 
self." 

"  This  is  a  painful  scene,"  observed  the  stranger  to  Sir 
Wycherly,  with  a  melancholy  smile.  "  This  gentleman  is 
now  at  the  tomb  of  his  dearest  friend  ;  and  yet,  as  you  see, 
he  appears  to  have  lost  all  recollection  that  such  a  person 
ever  existed.  For  what  do  we  live,  if  a  few  brief  years  are 
to  render  our  memories  such  vacant  spots  !  " 

"Has  he  been  long  this  way? "asked  Lady  Wyche- 
combe,  with  interest. 

The  stranger  started  at  the  sound  of  her  voice.  He 
looked  intently  into  the  face  of  the  still,  fair  speaker,  be 
fore  he  answered  ;  then  he  bowed,  and  replied  : 

"He  has  been  failing  these  five  years,  though  his  last 
visit  here  was  much  less  painful  than  this.  But  are  our 
own  memories  perfect  ?  Surely,  I  have  seen  that  face  be 
fore!  These  young  ladies,  too — 

"Geoffrey — dear  Cousin  Geoffrey!"  exclaimed  Lady 
Wychecombe,  holding  out  both  hands.  "It  is — it  must  be 
the  Duke  of  Glamorgan,  Wycherly  !" 

No  further  explanations  were  needed.  All  the  parties 
recognized  each  other  in  an  instant.  They  had  not  met 
for  many,  many  years,  and  each  had  passed  the  period  of 
life  when  the  greatest  change  occurs  in  the  physical  ap 
pearance  ;  but,  now  that  the  ice  was  broken,  a  flood  of  rec 
ollections  poured  in.  The  Duke,  or  Geoffrey  Cleveland, 
as  we  prefer  to  call  him,  kissed  his  cousin  and  her  daugh 
ters  with  frank  affection,  for  no  change  of  condition  had 
altered  his  simple  sea-habits,  and  he  shook  hands  with  the 
gentlemen,  with  a  cordiality  like  that  of  old  times.  All 
this,  however,  was  unheeded  by  Sir  Gervaise,  who  sat 
looking  at  the  monument,  in  a  dull  apathy. 

"Galleygo,"  he  said;  but  Galleygo  had  placed  himself 


THE    TirO   ADMIRALS.  437 

before  Sir  Wycherly,  and  thrust  out  a  hand  that  looked 
like  a  bunch  of  knuckles. 

"  I  knows  ye  !  "  exclaimed  the  steward  with  a  grin.  "  I 
knowed  ye  in  the  offing  yonder,  but  I  couldn't  make  out 
the  number.  Lord,  sir,  if  this  doesn't  brighten  Sir  Jarvey 
up  again,  and  put  him  in  mind  of  old  times,  I  shall  be 
gin  to  think  we  have  run  out  cable  to  the  better  end." 

"  I  will  speak  to  him  Duke,  if  you  think  it  advisable  ?" 
said  Sir  Wycherly,  in  an  inquiring  manner. 

"  Galleygo,"  put  in  Sir  Gervaise,  "what  lubber  fitted 
that  cable?  He  has  turned  in  the  clench  the  wrong  way." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,  they  is  great  lubbers,  them  stone-cutters, 
Sir  Jarvey  ;  and  they  knows  about  as  much  of  ships,  as 
ships  knows  of  them.  But  here  is  young  Sir  Wycherly 
Wychecombe  come  to  see  you — the  old'un's  nevy." 

"  Sir  Wycherly,  you  are  a  very  welcome  guest.  Bowldero 
is  a  poor  place  for  a  gentleman  of  your  merit  ;  but  such 
as  it  is,  it  is  entirely  at  your  service.  What  did  you  say 
the  gentleman's  name  was,  Galleygo  ?" 

"  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  the  young  'un — the  old 
'un  clipped  the  night  as  we  moored  in  his  house." 

"  I  hope,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  have  not  entirely  passed  from 
your  recollection  ;  it  would  grieve  me  sadly  to  think  so. 
And  my  poor  uncle,  too  ;  he  who  died  of  apoplexy  in  your 
presence." 

" Nullus,  nulla,  niillum.  That's  good  Latin,  hey,  Duke? 
Nullius,  nullius,  nullius.  My  memory  is  excellent,  gentle 
men  ;  nominative /<?«/>/#,  genitive pennce,  and  so  on." 

"Now,  Sir  Jarvey,  since  you're  veering  out  your  Latin,  I 
should  like  to  know  if  you  can  tell  a  '  clove-hitch '  from  a 
1  carrick-bend  ? ' ' 

"  That  is  an  extraordinary  question,  Galleygo,  to  put  an 
old  seaman." 

"  Well,  if  you  remembers  that,  why  can't  you  just  as 
reasonably  remember  your  old  friend,  Admiral  Blue  ? " 

44  Admiral  of  the  blue!  I  do  recollect  many  Admirals 
of  the  blue.  They  ought  to  make  me  an  admiral  of  the 
blue,  Duke  ;  I've  been  a  Rear-admiral  long  enough." 

"  You've  been  an  admiral  of  the  blue  once  ;  and  that's 
enough  for  any  man,"  interrupted  Galleygo,  again  in  his 
positive  manner ;  "  and  it  isn't  five  minutes  since  you 
knowed  your  own  rank  as  well  as  the  Secretary  of  the  Ad 
miralty  himself.  He  veers  and  hauls,  in  this  fashion,  on 


438  THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 

the  idee,  gentlemen,  until  he  doesn't  know  one  end  of  it 
from  t'other." 

"  This  is  not  uncommon  with  men  of  great  age,"  ob 
served  the  Duke.  "  They  sometimes  remember  the  things 
of  their  youth,  while  the  whole  of  later  life  is  a  blank. 
I  have  remarked  this  with  our  venerable  friend,  in  whose 
mind  I  think  it  will  not  be  difficult,  however,  to  revive  the 
recollection  of  Admiral  Bluewater,  and  even  of  yourself, 
Sir  Wycherly.  Let  me  make  the  effort,  Galleygo." 

"Yes,  Lord  Geoffrey,"  for  so  the  steward  always  called 
the  quondam  reefer,  "  you  does  handle  him  more  like 
quick-working  boat  than  any  of  us  ;  and  so  I'll  take  an 
hopportunity  of  just  overhauling  our  old  Lieutenant's 
young  'uns,  and  of  seeing  what  sort  of  craft  he  has  set 
afloat  for  the  next  generation." 

"  Sir  Gervaise,"  said  the  Duke,  leaning  over  the  chair, 
"  here  is  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  who  once  served  a 
short  time  with  us  as  lieutenant  ;  it  was  wThen  you  were  in 
the  Plantagenet.  I  trust  you  remember  him,  my  dear  sir?" 

"The  Plantagenets  ?  Certainly,  Duke:  I  read  them 

when  a  boy.  Edwards,  and  Henrys,  and  Richards "  at 

the  last  name  he  stopped  ;  the  muscles  of  his  face  twitched: 
memory  had  touched  a  sensitive  chord.  But  it  was  too 
faintly  to  produce  more  than  a  pause. 

"  There,  now,"  growled  Galleygo,  in  Agnes's  face,  he 
being  just  then  employed  in  surveying  her  through  a  pair 
of  silver  spectacles  that  were  a  present  from  his  master, 
"you  see,  he  has  forgotten  the  old  Planter  ;  and  the  next 
thing,  he'll  forget  to  eat  his  dinner.  It's  wicked,  Sir 
Jarvey,  to  forget  such  a  ship." 

"  I  trust,  at  least,  you  have  not  forgotten  Richard  Blue- 
water  ?"  continued  the  Duke,  "  he  who  fell  in  our  last  ac 
tion  with  the  Comte  de  Vervillin  ?" 

A  gleam  of  intelligence  shot  into  the  rigid  and  wrinkled 
face  ;  the  eye  lighted,  and  a  painful  smile  struggled  around 
the  lips. 

"  What,  Dick  ! "  he  exclaimed,  in  a  voice  stronger  than 
that  in  which  he  had  previously  spoken.  "  Dick  !  hey, 
Duke  !  good,  excellent  Dick  !  We  were  midshipmen  to 
gether,  my  Lord  Duke  ;  and  I  loved  him  like  a  brother  ! " 

"  I  knew  you  did  !  and  I  dare  say  now  you  can  recollect 
the  melancholy  occasion  of  his  death  ?" 

"  Is  Dick  dead  ? "  asked  the  Admiral,  with  a  vacant  gaze. 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  439 

"  Lord,  Lord,  Sir  Jarvey,  you  know  he  is,  and  that  'ere 
marvel  constructure  is  his  monerment  ;  now  you  must  re 
member  the  old  Planter,  and  the  County  of  Fairvillain; 
and  the  threshing  we  guv'd  him  ?" 

"  Pardon  me,  Galleygo  ;  there  is  no  occasion  for  warmth. 
When  I  was  a  midshipman,  warmth  of  expression  was  dis 
approved  of  by  all  the  elder  officers." 

"  You  cause  me  to  lose  ground,"  said  the  Duke,  looking 
at  the  steward  by  the  way  of  bidding  him  be  silent ;  "  is  it 
not  extraordinary,  Sir  Wycherly,  how  his  mind  reverts  to 
his  youth,  overlooking  the  scenes  of  later  life  ?  Yes,  Dick 
is  dead,  Sir  Gervaise.  He  fell  in  that  battle  in  which  you 
were  doubled  on  by  the  French — when  you  had  Le  Fou- 
droyant  on  one  side  of  you  and  Le  Pluton  on  the  other — " 

"/  remember  it!"  interrupted  Sir  Gervaise,  in  a  clear, 
strong  voice,  his  eye  flashing  with  something  like  the  fire 
of  youth  ;  "  I  remember  it  !  Le  Foudroyant  was  on  our 
starboard  beam  ;  Le  Pluton  a  little  on  our  larboard  bow — 
Bunting  had  gone  aloft  to  look  out  for  Bluewater — no — 
poor  Bunting  was  killed ' 

"  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  who  afterward  married 
Mildred  Bluewater,  Dick's  niece,"  put  in  the  Baronet  him 
self,  almost  as  eager  as  the  Admiral  had  now  become  ; 
"  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe  had  been  aloft,  but  was  re 
turned  to  report  the  Pluton  coming  down." 

"  So  he  did  ! — God  bless  him  !  A  clever  youth,  and  he 
did  marry  Dick's  niece.  God  bless  them  both.  Well,  sir, 
you're  a  stranger,  but  the  story  will  interest  you.  There 
we  lay,  almost  smothered  in  the  smoke,  with  one  two- 
decker  at  work  on  our  starboard  beam,  and  another  ham 
mering  away  on  the  larboard  bow,  with  our  topmasts  over 
the  side,  and  the  guns  firing  through  the  wreck." 

44  Aye,  now  you're  getting  it  like  a  book!"  exclaimed 
Galleygo,  exultingly,  flourishing  his  stick,  and  strutting 
about  the  little  chapel  ;  "that's  just  the  way  things  was, 
as  I  knows  from  seeing  'em." 

"I'm  quite  certain  I'm  right,  Galleygo!" 

"  Right  !  your  honor's  righter  than  any  log-book  in  the 
fleet.  Give  it  to  'em,  Sir  Jarvey,  larboard  and  starboard  !" 

"That  we  did — that  we  did!"  continued  the  old  man 
earnestly,  becoming  even  grand  in  aspect,  as  he  rose,  al 
ways  gentleman-like  and  graceful,  but  filled  with  native 
fire,  "that  did  we!  De  Vervillin  was  on  our  right,  and 


440  THE    TWO  ADMIRALS. 

Des  Prez  on  our  left — the  smoke  was  choking  us  all ; 
Bunting — no — young  Wychecombe  was  at  my  side  ;  he  said 
a  fresh  Frenchman  was  shoving  in  between  us  and  Le 
Pluton,  sir — God  forbid  !  I  thought  ;  for  we  had  enough 
of  them,  as  it  was.  There  she  comes  !  See,  here  is  her  fly 
ing-jib-boom-end — and  there — hey,  Wychecombe? — That's 
the  old  Roman,  shoving  through  the  smoke! — Caesar  him 
self  !  and  there  stands  Dick  and  young  Geoffrey  Cleveland 
— he  was  of  your  family,  Duke — there  stands  Dick  Blue- 
water,  between  the  knight-heads,  waving  his  hat — HUR 
RAH  !— He's  true,  at  last  !— He's  true,  at  last !— HUR 
RAH  I--HURR  AH  !" 

The  clarion  tones  rose  like  a  trumpet's  blast,  and  the 
cheering  of  the  old  sailor  rang  in  the  arches  of  the  Abbey 
Church,  causing  all  within  to  start,  as  if  a  voice  spoke 
from  the  tombs.  Sir  Gervaise  himself  seemed  surprised  ; 
he  looked  up  at  the  vaulted  roof,  with  a  gaze  half-be 
wildered,  half-delighted.  "Is  this  Bovvldero,  or  Glamorgan 
House,  my  Lord  Duke  ?  "  he  asked  in  a  whisper. 

"It  is  neither,  Admiral  Oakes,  but  Westminster  Abbey, 
and  this  is  the  tomb  of  your  friend,  Rear-admiral  Richard 
Bluewater." 

"  Galleygo,  help  me  to  kneel,"  the  old  man  added  in  the 
manner  of  a  corrected  school-boy.  "  The  stoutest  of  us 
all  should  kneel  to  God,  in  his  own  temple.  I  beg  pardon, 
gentlemen  ;  I  wish  to  pray." 

The  Duke  of  Glamorgan  and  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe 
helped  the  Admiral  to  his  knees,  and  Galleygo,  as  was  his 
practice,  knelt  beside  his  master,  who  bowed  his  head  on 
his  man's  shoulders.  This  touching  spectacle  brought  all 
the  others  into  the  same  humble  attitude.  Wycherly, 
Mildred,  and  their  children,  with  the  noble,  kneeling  and 
praying  in  company.  One  by  one,  the  latter  arose  ;  still 
Galleygo  and  his  master  continued  on  the  pavement.  At 
length,  Geoffrey  Cleveland  stepped  forward,  and  raised 
the  old  man,  placing  him,  with  Wycherly's  assistance,  in 
the  chair.  Here  he  sat,  with  a  calm  smile  on  his  aged 
features,  his  open  eyes  riveted  seemingly  on  the  name  of 
his  friend,  perfectly  dead.  There  had  been  a  reaction, 
which  suddenly  stopped  the  current  of  life,  at  the  heart. 

Thus  expired  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  full  of  years,  and  of 
honors  ;  one  of  the  bravest  and  most  successful  of  Eng 
land's  sea  captains.  He  had  lived  his  time,  and  supplied 


THE    TWO  ADMIRALS.  441 

an  instance  of  the  insufficiency  of  worldly  success  to  com 
plete  the  destiny  of  man  ;  having,  in  a  degree,  survived 
his  faculties,  and  the  consciousness  of  all  he  had  done,  and 
all  he  merited.  As  a  small  offset  to  this  failing  of  nature, 
he  had  regained  a  glimmering  view  of  one  of  the  most 
striking  scenes,  and  of  much  the  most  enduring  sentiment, 
of  a  long  life,  which  God,  in  mercy,  permitted  to  be 
terminated  in  the  act  of  humble  submission  to  his  own 
greatness  and  glory. 


THE    END. 


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